Historical Markers
Men and women in a fun run activity - running club history routes

Running · County in California

Running Club History Routes in Contra Costa County, CA

Club runs that pass listed sites, with the distances worked out and a story to tell at the regroup stops.

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Photo: Roman Synkevych on Unsplash

Contra Costa County is one of 58 counties in California. The best local history work is done by volunteers, and the hardest part is getting it seen beyond the meeting room.

Group of people running on stadium - running club history routes
Photo: Steven Lelham on Unsplash
A diverse group of adults jogging together on a city bridge during the day - running club history routes
Photo: Cottonbro on Pexels
Woman jogging outside historic baroque building with arches - running club history routes
Photo: Connor Scott McManus on Pexels

On the record near Contra Costa County, CA

The 12 nearest

444 listed historic sites on the record within 30 miles of Contra Costa County, CA. 37 listed sites carry Contra Costa County as their county.

  1. Shadelands Ranch Houseunder a mile from the center of Contra Costa County · Building · Walnut Creek · listed 1985National Register of Historic Places
  2. Galindo, Don Francisco, House2.6 miles from the center of Contra Costa County · Building · Concord · listed 1988National Register of Historic Places
  3. Rodgers, Patrick, Farm3.2 miles from the center of Contra Costa County · Building · Pleasant Hill · listed 1991National Register of Historic Places
  4. Hendrick, William T., House4.0 miles from the center of Contra Costa County · Building · Pacheco · listed 1983National Register of Historic Places
  5. Pacheco, Don Fernando, Adobe4.2 miles from the center of Contra Costa County · Building · Concord · listed 1980National Register of Historic Places
  6. Clayton Vineyards-DeMartini Winery5.1 miles from the center of Contra Costa County · Building · Clayton · listed 1984National Register of Historic Places
  7. Dollar, Robert Stanley Sr., House5.4 miles from the center of Contra Costa County · Building · Walnut Creek · listed 2013National Register of Historic Places
  8. Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial6.7 miles from the center of Contra Costa County · District · Martinez · listed 2009National Register of Historic Places
  9. John Muir National Historic Site6.7 miles from the center of Contra Costa County · Building · Martinez · listed 1966National Register of Historic Places
  10. Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site7.6 miles from the center of Contra Costa County · Building · Danville · listed 1978National Register of Historic Places
  11. Martinez Grammar School Annex7.9 miles from the center of Contra Costa County · Building · Martinez · listed 2018National Register of Historic Places
  12. Martinez City Library8.0 miles from the center of Contra Costa County · Building · Martinez · listed 2008National Register of Historic Places

Distances are straight-line from the center of Contra Costa County, CA. Many sites are private property or working buildings - view them from the public way. See them on the map.

Running Club Routes in Contra Costa County, step by step

  1. 1

    Pick the distance first, then the stops that fit it

  2. 2

    Load the route and note the regroup points

  3. 3

    Run easy and stop at each marker long enough to read it

  4. 4

    Take one photo per stop, no more, and keep moving

  5. 5

    Save the route so the next run starts where this one ended

What people in Contra Costa County, CA ask first

How much does it cost to visit these sites in Contra Costa County, CA?

Most listed sites can be seen from a public road or sidewalk at no cost, and the app is free to use. Some sites are private homes, working churches or museums with their own hours and fees. The record for each one says what it is, so you know before you go.

Where does the information on these sites come from?

From published records: the National Register of Historic Places, the Recorded Texas Historic Landmark program, and the Georgia Historical Society and Georgia Department of Natural Resources marker program. Every site on the page names its source.

Can our group in Contra Costa County, CA build its own route?

Yes. Pick the listed sites that fit your theme, add your own notes for each stop, and share the route with members or the public.

Do members need to download anything?

The map runs in a phone browser, so members can open a link and go. The app keeps track of badges for anyone who signs in.

How a visit works in Contra Costa County

  1. Step 1

    Find the place

    Every stop starts as a pin with real coordinates. In Contra Costa County, CA the map shows what is listed around you and how far each one is, so the first decision is where to go, and it takes a few seconds.

  2. Step 2

    Read the story

    The record behind each marker is kept whole: what happened there, when, who was involved, and why it was worth a sign. You read it standing where it happened, which is the part a textbook cannot give you.

  3. Step 3

    Get there under your own power

    Walk it, run it, hike it, ride it or drive it. Stops in Contra Costa County, CA are chained into routes that fit the way you move, so a lunch break, a long run or a Saturday drive can all pass through history.

  4. Step 4

    Collect it and come back

    Each stop you reach counts toward a badge, and a photo or a correction you send makes the record better for the next person. The map remembers where you have been, so the next trip starts where the last one ended.

The rules that make it work

The record comes first

Every site on these pages comes from a published register or marker program, with its source named. Nothing is listed that is not on the record.

Read the whole story

A marker is a few lines on a post. The story behind it is longer, and it includes the hard parts. Both are worth the stop.

Movement makes it stick

People remember the places they walked to. A route through five markers teaches more than fifty marker pages read on a couch.

Local beats famous

The marker two streets over usually has a better story than the one in the guidebook, and nobody else is standing in front of it.

Respect the ground

Many sites are private homes, working churches or cemeteries. View from the public way, follow posted hours, and leave it as you found it.

Every visitor can improve it

Markers go missing, get moved, or carry mistakes. A photo or a location fix from the person standing there is how the record stays right.

More ways in around Contra Costa County, CA

Group of seniors walking down a city street - historical society toursHistorical Society ToursPeople standing in a multi-level library with many books - library local history programsLibrary ProgramsA group of people viewing historical artifacts in a museum exhibit - museum walking toursMuseum Walking ToursPeople gathered in a large, ornate church hall - congregation history toursCongregation ToursThree men and laughing two women walking side by side - walking group history routesWalking Group RoutesA group of people riding bikes down a road - cycling club history ridesCycling Club RidesA group of people with backpacks hiking up a grassy hill in silhouette - hiking club history hikesHiking Club HikesA group of people walking down a dirt road - senior center history outingsSenior Center Outings

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