One of the biggest earthquakes in California history occurs and, although the Post Office is situated in one of the areas most heavily affected, the building itself suffers little damage. The top of the original clock tower is destroyed, but most of the heavy facades, including the delicate carvings in the exterior arches, survive.

The Post Office moves to another location. In June 1937, the building becomes the Main City Library.

The library moves and the building is converted for use by The Fine Arts Gallery Association (FAGA). The association is incorporated to further interest and education in the arts. On February 24, a proposed contract between FAGA and the City of San Jose is presented to the City Council. On September 19, the Civic Art Gallery opens to the public.

The building is declared a California Historical Landmark in October and placed on the National Registry of Landmarks in Washington, D.C.

The Civic Art Gallery undergoes a name change becoming the San Jose Museum of Art. The Civic Art Gallery Association becomes the San Jose Museum of Art Association.

The building undergoes a major renovation to provide gallery space and administrative offices.

The City of San Jose selects Skidmore, Owings & Merrill as master planner for the San Antonio Plaza Redevelopment Program, which includes the Museum.

Plans are developed, and private and public funds are committed for the New Wing.

Construction begins on the New Wing. Exterior architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. Interior architect: Robinson, Mills & Williams. Natural sandstone, pre-cast concrete, glass, aluminum and "Sardo Gray" granite complement the Historic Wing.

On June 1, the Museum realizes a 10-year goal when the $14 million, 45,000-square-foot New Wing is unveiled, tripling the Museum's exhibition space.

The Museum enters into an unprecedented exclusive collaboration with the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York to display four substantial, long-term exhibitions drawn from the extensive Whitney permanent collection.

The first collaborative exhibition, American Art 1900 - 1940: A History Reconsidered, Selections from the Permanent Collection of the Whitney Museum of American Art, opens in May. The exhibition, a chronological examination of the development of American art between the turn of the century and World War II, features more than 100 works by 72 American artists, including Thomas Hart Benton, Edward Hopper and Georgia O'Keeffe, among others. Also, the Historic Wing closes for extensive renovation and earthquake retrofitting. The Museum's administrative staff moves off-site.

The second exhibition, American Art 1940-1965: Traditions Reconsidered, Selections from the Permanent Collection of the Whitney Museum of American Art, opens in December. The exhibition features works by artists including Jasper Johns, Franz Kline, Louise Nevelson and Frank Stella.

The administrative staff moves back into the Historic Wing. The third exhibition, Alternating Currents: American Art in the Age of Technology, Selections from the Permanent Collection of the Whitney Museum of American Art features works by artists including Claes Oldenburg, Tony Oursler, Alan Rath and Jenny Holzer. Its opening in October coincides with the public re-opening of the Historic Wing. The newly-renovated Historic Wing now houses the Paul L. Davies Gallery, the Charlotte Wendel Education Center, The Museum Store and The Museum Café.

The fourth exhibition, Surroundings: Responses to the American Landscape: Selections from the Whitney Museum of American Art opens in June. The exhibition features works by artists including Stuart Davis, Willem de Kooning, Richard Diebenkorn and John Marin. Longtime Museum Director Josi Callan resigns. The Museum names Susan Landauer its new Katie and Drew Gibson Chief Curator, initiating an ambitious exhibition and publication program.

Surroundings: Responses to the American Landscape: Selections from the Whitney Museum of American Art concludes in June. The Museum appoints Daniel T. Keegan as its new Executive Director in November.

SJMA inaugurates its free admission policy in June. The Oshman Family Foundation endows the position of Executive Director with a $2 million contribution, the largest gift in Museum history.

For the first time in the museum's history, the permanent collection is displayed in an on-going exhibition titled: Collection Highlights.

The Museum celebrated its 35th Anniversary.

SJMA to be cornerstone of the inaugural ZeroOne Festival - a milestone festival to be held biennially that makes accessible the work of the most innovative contemporary artists in the world.

The Museum celebrated its 40th Anniversary.