On June 20, 1894, 24 women gathered together to formally organize the Woman's Club of Palo Alto. Their goals were self-improvement, mutual help and community work, and they didn't waste any time fulfilling them. Within the first four years of the club's existence, they had founded the city's first reading room and library, as well as its first elementary school and high school.

Their dream of having their own clubhouse, however, was not realized until 1916. After twelve years of continuous fundraising they managed to raise $5,300, and their Tudor-Craftsman-style "home" was designed by Charles E. Hodges, a noted architect of the day. As so often happens, there were cost overruns and final cost of construction was $10,590. At the time, they worried that it was too far removed from the center of town, but its location in a quiet residential neighborhood has proved a felicitous one.

During Palo Alto's formative years, the Club was the women's arm of local government and school affairs at a time when women were ineligible to vote and held no offices. (Today, most of the women who have served on the Palo Alto City Council are members.) Early civic activities included tree planting, beginning our library system, and setting up one of the first gymnasiums in town. Learn more about the club's history.