When Phil talked about local history, it was almost as though he had lived it. Fascinated by local history, he delved into old newspapers, spending countless hours immersed in the past. Philip Glen Reader (1940-2014) was a Santa Cruz County native who grew up in the Live Oak area. *Other organizations with this same name were founded earlier, but each folded.

2012 Name changes to the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History.

1996 The Historical Trust and Art Museum merge to form the Museum of Art & History.

Eventually it is leased for a coffee shop to raise funds for the museum. The Octagon is used for special exhibits and later the Museum Store. The new building is located adjacent to the former County Jail, which is converted to offices and stores. 1993 The Art Museum of Santa Cruz County and the History Museum of Santa Cruz County (operated by the Historical Trust) move into and share a new museum building at the McPherson Center, 705 Front Street.This group then merges with the Santa Cruz Historical Society to create the Santa Cruz County Historical Trust 1986 The Friends of the Octagon unites with the Santa Cruz County Society for Historical Preservation to form the Octagon Historical Trust.Holds exhibits upstairs at the Santa Cruz main library.

1981 Art Museum of Santa Cruz County forms.

1972 Santa Cruz County Historical Museum (known as The Octagon) opens in the old county Hall of Records building.

1954 The Santa Cruz Historical Society is founded.* Put out newsletter.

The Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History developed from the merger of several ancestral organizations.

Santa Cruz County by Margaret Koch