I’ve always been a fan of recognizing the importance of ‘place’ because ‘place’ is where we live, visit, roam, and dream. It encompasses those connections we have with a particular location and how we have interacted within it. We create our own historical memories based on events, family or  heritage association.

It’s where we are in this moment or just as often, it’s where we remember events. That trip we took, those lazy summer afternoons, the schools we attended, our front door looking out onto.. the street, the lane, the forest, or the empty lot next door.

So why commemorate a location? As Museum Executive Director Stacey Atchley points out, it is a time to “think about how we can preserve Petaluma’s vibrant past while also shaping a sustainable, culturally rich future”.

Here in Petaluma, the movers and shakers at the Petaluma Historical Library and Museum, recognizing that Petaluma hosts a remarkable historical past, have organized a month-long celebration of that past with a variety of activities.

Take a moment to peruse this list… there are lots to do!

Every Saturday in May meet up at the front steps of the Petaluma Historical Library and Museum at 10:30 am to take a historical tour of town. Led by  genuine Petalumans of Yesteryear, you will get the ‘inside scoop’ on downtown Petaluma…and oh my...the stories you will hear!

Hang out with authors Alan Butler and Katherine Rinehart as they discuss their new book “The Petaluma River, a Sketch Journal and Brief Historical Overview” on May 3 from 12:00 –2:00 at Copperfields in Petaluma.

Step back in time to the early days in Petaluma. The Petaluma Adobe Living History Day, May 10 from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. 

Check out how to make candles, bread, rope and more.

Historian Katherine Rinehart will share some historical signs… what captured our attention as we drove down the highway or strolled along the street? Come to Exploring the History of Petaluma Signs, a slide show presentation, on May 18 at 1:30 at the Petaluma Arts Center to see the many signs that decorated our landscape and shops.

And on May 22 at 6:30 – come to the Petaluma Historical Library and Museum for a discussion with a panel of experts how efforts are underway all over California to preserve past and present Chinatowns. Learn more about how saving these hubs of tradition and culture, enriches our communities and the importance of remembering the legacies of Chinatowns past.

….and…because we live in a fabulous town with an engaging history, take a walk downtown, check out the buildings, pick out your favorite: and vote for it in our “Pick your favorite Petaluma building." You can drop by the Copperfield’s Bookstore display and use the QR Code there to vote. OR.. click the link to vote right now!  

Next month: what HAVE we been doing in the Petaluma History Room during renovation???  Learn about some the happenings in History Room archiving…