The Martin Murphy family, founders of the City of Sunnyvale, constructed the house in the 1850s.

It was held together with wooden pegs and leather straps, and was the first wood-frame house in Sunnyvale.

It was funded through public donations and contributions from the State of California and the City of Sunnyvale.

[5] Heritage Park also includes a Heritage Orchard of apricot trees and a barn[3] with an outdoor interpretive exhibit on the agricultural history of the Santa Clara Valley.

[6] In December 2018, after removal of a park maintenance building, a new front entrance to the museum was created with additional outside exhibits.