Summary and Current Status
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Forest Home Farms (19953 San Ramon Valley Blvd.) was gifted to the City of San Ramon in 1998 by Ruth Quayle Boone, with the condition that the historic property be preserved in perpetuity for
public education and enjoyment.
In 1999, the City adopted the Forest Home Farms Master Plan, which included an inventory of the site’s 21 buildings and rehabilitation plans; and led to its listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
A 2021 Boone House Future Use Survey found that 75% of respondents considered expanded educational and interpretive spaces to be important or extremely important.
In August 2024, City staff engaged with TreanorHL, who specializes in historic preservation, to review existing studies, conduct site visits, evaluate structural needs, and develop a pathway that supports educational programming while preserving the Boone House’s historic integrity.
The proposed Boone House renovation will focus on preserving the historic structure while improving functionality and accessibility.
Work includes selective demolition to address structural issues on the first and second floors, followed by reconstruction and improvements to exhibit, interpretive, storage, staffing, and meeting spaces.
Additional upgrades include replacing the roof and reconfiguring the internal staircase to improve connectivity between the lower levels of the home. The renovations will also enhance public access through the addition of museum-grade lighting, updated heating and cooling systems, and a newly interpreted exhibit area featuring
Travis Boone’s office.
Throughout construction, public and staff access to the building will be impacted, and the historic archives will require temporary relocation to accommodate the work. The popular educational tours for local school district students will continue during construction, with only minor modifications to programming and site access.
During FY27, funding has been allocated to complete the project’s design phase, with full renovation funding anticipated to be requested in FY28.
Once approved, the Boone House Renovation is expected to take approximately 12–18 months and will have a minimal impact on the rest of the park. The project will be funded through the Park Development Fund, the City Beautification Fund, and in collaboration with the San Ramon Historic Foundation.