Aptos History Exhibits
Aptos, California
The town's one room museum is in the same building as the Chamber of Commerce, and is open for self-guided tours. Just flip on the lights.
Historical exhibits are arranged in a rough time sequence -- local milestones and artifacts are juxtaposed with a running chronology of mankind's accomplishments along the upper walls: "1582: Improved Gregorian Calendar...1606: Galileo Telescope...1971: VCR... 1972: Pong Video Game.... 1974: Post-It Notes...." A replica Ohlone Indian boat, made by museum volunteers, hangs overhead.
Aptos was the epicenter of the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake, a 7.1 shaker that caused plenty of local damage, even though San Francisco got all the attention. The museum doesn't have much space to devote to it, though. Aptos is more proud of its role as site of the first high altitude glider aircraft flight in 1905.
The coastal region's wealth of nature is preserved in many state parks. A store mannequin in a park ranger uniform seemed to be the best photo op in the museum.