By Town Crier Staff Report

Laura Bajuk brings her expertise and love of history to Los Altos as the new executive director of the city’s museum.

Laura Bajuk, former executive director of a group of museums in Los Gatos, began work last week as the executive director of the Los Altos History Museum.

Bajuk led operations at Museums of Los Gatos for more than six years. She brings museum expertise and enthusiasm to Los Altos.

In addition to her Los Gatos work, Bajuk organized a 30,000-piece archive at the historic Pardee home in Oakland. A fine arts graduate of UCLA, she is pursuing her thesis in museum studies at San Francisco State University.

“This is a beautiful facility in a great location,” Bajuk said last week. “This is a jewel.”

Although impressed with the facilities, it was the group of museum volunteers that spurred Bajuk to leave her position in Los Gatos for Los Altos.

“I was pretty happy in Los Gatos,” she said. After hearing of the Los Altos position from former museum director Madelyn Crawford, Bajuk said she applied “at the last minute.” But when she interviewed, “I ended up falling in love with the people. I feel very comfortable here. There are so many successful things about this museum.”

As the museum’s first full-time director, Bajuk said she hopes to establish “a consistent presence here,” working with volunteers to continue the museum’s success.

The daughter of a U.S. Navy man Bajuk was born at Fort Meade. Her family transferred from place to place. “Wherever we lived, I liked to see the local museums,” she said. “It’s a great place to find out about the community.”

Bajuk said she plans to join the Los Altos Kiwanis Club. She is past-president of the Kiwanis Club in Los Gatos.

Bajuk is only the second director to lead the history museum since its opening in 2001.

The Los Altos History Museum, located at 51 S. San Antonio Road, is open to the public noon to 4 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays.

For more information, call 948-9427 or visit www.losaltoshistory.org.