The city of Menlo Park is named after...a sign. The city received its official name in 1854 when two Irishmen, Dennis J. Oliver and D. C. McGlynn, purchased 1,700 acres along what is now El Camino Real and built two houses with a common entrance. Across the drive they erected a huge wooden gate with tall arches bearing the inscription "Menlo Park" and the date "August 1854" at the entrance to their property
The men named their new home after their old, in Menlough on Lough Corib, County Galway. No one knows whether they abbreviated the name to "Menlo" because the space on the arch precluded the longer version, because it was their way of Americanizing the name, or because they just couldn't spell. When the railroad came through in 1863 the local station was the end of the line, but had no designation. A railroad official looked over at the gates and decided that “Menlo Park” would be appropriate, and so the name was officially adopted. This station is now California State Landmark No. 955, the oldest California station in continuous operation.
Embracing the latter half of its name, Menlo Park is home to 13 official city parks...and one tiny park you won't find listed on the city website. You'll find this geocache soaking up the sun in the NanoPark, which was created to give walkers, runners, bicylists, and dogs a comfortable place to rest and refresh. This is a residential neighborhood, so don't prowl around in the bushes! You will be able to reach the cache easily and stealthily if you simply take a seat.