From the 1870's - 1940's, the name Santa Clara Valley was synonymous with blossoming orchards, for its mild winters, long growing season, abundant sunshine, and water supply made planting orchards "a surer way to fortune than mining gold." By the late 1880's, exportation of Valley prunes, apricots, plums, pears, and more brought the area its reputation as an international fruit production center.

Moved to make room for the U. S. Highway 101 Bypass, this fruit barn was once part of the Stevens Ranch, located 12 miles southeast of central San Jose. The ranch was purchased by Orvis Stevens in 1868, and by 1892, it

boasted one of the first orchards in the Coyote region. Stevens not only grew pears, peaches, apples and grapes, but also constructed a large fruit drying plant (including this barn) to dry his own fruit and fruit from nearby orchards for successful shipping. From the 30 tons of fruit dried in 1898, the Stevens Ranch has continued its operation down to the present.

In 1988, the photo exhibit "Passing Farms: Enduring Values" was installed in the Stevens Ranch Fruit Barn. Photographs are combined with canning labels and farm implements to provide an overview of farming in the Santa Clara Valley before the change to a high technology culture.