In 1851 David Umbarger, a “forty-niner” from West Virginia, bought 136.5 acres in the Santa Clara Valley. Umbarger built this house on his homestead in the 1870s.

Like many ex-miners who remained in California, Umbarger started farming in order to make a living. He dedicated his land to wheat and grain production.

After Umbarger died in 1891, his land was divided and sold. The house remained on a six and one-half acre lot which changed owners several times. The Umbarger House was moved to History Park in 1970.

The rest of Umbarger’s property became smaller farms and building lots as well as part of Umbarger Road in southeast San José. In August 1946, thirty-two acres of the land were sold to become part of the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds.

Visit the “kitchen garden” behind the house. This type of garden was a common feature found in the Santa Clara Valley. The Umbargers would have grown vegetables, fruits, and herbs.