On Saturday, September 12, 2026, the Santa Clara Valley Carvers visited History Park in San Jose. We set up a booth at Cars in the Park, the largest annual antique and classic auto show in the West. David Osterlund, David Clarke, and Roman Chernikov manned the table. Many visitors came to see the vintage cars, but they stayed to watch our woodcarving demonstration.
A Step Back in Time
History Park is a beautiful 14-acre district at the south end of Kelley Park. Its restored buildings and paved streets show how people lived and worked in San Jose from 1850 to 1970. Even the old trolley still runs!
On the day of the show, rows of antique cars lined the streets, and visitors in period clothing strolled past a vintage gas station and historic buildings.
The Art of the Chip
Our three carvers spent the day whittling and carving. They answered questions from curious visitors and handed out club flyers. Our display table was full of members’ work in many styles. Visitors saw carved Vikings, Santas, toys, and countless ornaments. We also showed off an owl, a horse, fish, and decorative letter openers. A highlight was David Osterlund’s carved wooden chains. An engraved “SANTA CLARA VALLEY CARVERS” sign and a California Carvers Guild ribbon completed the table.
This was not our first time carving at History Park. You can read about our booth in 2025 and 2022. Visitors loved picking up the pieces and feeling the finishes. Many people came back for a second look as the shavings piled up on the table.
A Community of Crafters
Our booth was one of about a dozen craft displays under blue canopies. We sat alongside thread spinners from the Lace Museum, button collectors, and a hatmaker. Our table, full of woodcarving projects, fit right in with these other traditional crafts.
Industrial Wonders
History Park is all about keeping the past alive. We saw full-size vintage streetcars, including the maroon-and-cream No. 7. Nearby, a train maintenance shop houses massive vintage tools, such as a Doall bandsaw and a huge metal lathe.
A blacksmithing demo was exciting to see at a forge shed. The demonstrator showed us cute items on the anvil nearby: tiny metal mice with curly tails. Several of these mice sat on the table in various stages of completion. History Park is a wonderful place to see the past in working order and enjoy live demonstrations.
The atmosphere was lively, thanks in part to the Silicon Gulch Jazz Band. The four-piece group — playing keyboard, trombone, trumpet, and banjo — wore matching purple vests. Their music drifted across the lawn, keeping the crowds of car enthusiasts in a great mood.
Celebrating Local History
The Fairgrounds Heritage Foundation does important work preserving the history of the Santa Clara County Fair. Its secretary, Diane Kneis, and vice president, Marcella Gulmon, smiled warmly at their booth, which featured a colorful prize wheel and a banner telling the fair’s story. Our club demonstrated woodcarving at the county fair in August 2026, and we are grateful to the Foundation for keeping that history alive. Read about our appearance at the fair: Woodcarving at Santa Clara County Fair, August 2026.
We thank History Park and the Santa Clara Valley Model T Ford Club, which organizes Cars in the Park, for hosting our woodcarving booth. You can find more information about the event on the club’s newsletter page by selecting the October 2026 newsletter link. We look forward to participating again next year!
If you would like to see our work up close, please visit our woodcarving club. Guests are welcome during our carving hours. You can find our times and locations on our home page. You can also subscribe to the newsletter so you don’t miss our next adventure.