The Palo Alto Historical Association, a nonprofit organization, was established in its present form in 1948 as successor to an earlier organization founded in 1913.

Its main objectives are:

Collecting, organizing, and preserving materials pertaining to the history and heritage of Palo Alto.

Spreading information about Palo Alto's history by means of programs, exhibits, publications, and its official newsletter The Tall Tree.

Recognizing and preserving historic sites and structures.