Petaluma Historical Museum

06/05/2026

Today is World Environment Day, and it's the perfect reminder that the history—and future—of our community is deeply connected to the natural systems around us.

This Saturday, join a docent from the Petaluma Wetlands Alliance at the Petaluma Museum for a hands-on watershed demonstration that brings the Petaluma River system to life.

Discover how water moves through the watershed, how wetlands help protect our community, and why these ecosystems are so important for wildlife, water quality, and climate resilience.

And while you're here, don't miss your final chance to experience Time & Tide: An Artful Exploration of Petaluma’s Wetlands. Featuring more than 90 works by local artists and students, the exhibition explores the history, ecology, and future of the Petaluma River and wetlands through art, science, and storytelling.

Come celebrate World Environment Day by connecting with one of the most important landscapes in our region! We're open Thursday through Sunday, 10am-4pm.

06/04/2026

Final Days to Experience Time & Tide at the Petaluma Museum!

Don’t miss your chance to explore Time & Tide: An Artful Exploration of Petaluma’s Wetlands before it closes this Sunday!

Featuring more than 90 works by local artists and students, the exhibition brings together art, science, history, and community to tell the story of the Petaluma River and wetlands—past, present, and future.

Come discover the beauty, significance, and resilience of one of our region’s most important landscapes.

Thank you to the artists, community members, and partners—especially Petaluma Wetlands Alliance, Alan Butler, and the Foundation For Sustainability and Innovation—who helped make this exhibition possible. We hope to see you before it closes!

06/03/2026

You were part of something powerful last year.

When federal funding cuts threatened programs that support museums, our community stepped up. Together, we helped the Petaluma Museum keep our work going strong.

We've been building on that momentum—with powerful exhibitions and community programs that bring people together, spark curiosity, and connect us to our shared history. But now more than ever, we rely on supporters like you to keep this work moving forward.

Will you join us again for another year of inspiring exhibitions, meaningful programs, and shared community connection?

Renew your support or join for the first time at https://givebutter.com/PetalumaMuseumMembership

05/28/2026

Petaluma’s wetlands protect more than wildlife… they shaped the history of Petaluma, and they can help shape our future too.

Thursday evening, come explore how history, art, and science intersect in one of Petaluma’s most important landscapes.

Thursday, May 28 • 6 PM
Petaluma Museum
FREE! RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1988048727260?aff=oddtdtcreator

05/23/2026

05/23/2026

What can Petaluma's wetlands teach us about resilience, restoration, and our shared future?

Join us for "From Past to Future: Stewarding Our Wetlands Together", an inspiring evening of conversation connected to the exhibit "Time & Tide: An Artful Exploration of Petaluma’s Wetlands" at the Petaluma Museum.

From rising seas to wetland restoration, this timely discussion brings together conservation leaders, artists, and community voices working to shape the future of the Petaluma River watershed.

Together, we’ll explore:
-How wetlands have shaped Petaluma’s past
-What restoration and stewardship look like today
-How climate change is transforming our relationship with the landscape
-The role of art, storytelling, and community action in imagining a more resilient future

Featured panelists:
Julian Wood, Point Blue Conservation Science
Julian Meisler,Sonoma Land Trust
Anne Chadwick, conservation volunteer leader at Point Blue and Time & Tide artist

Wednesday, May 28, 6 PM at the Petaluma Museum
Free! RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1988048727260?aff=oddtdtcreator

05/12/2026

This May, AAPI Heritage Month and National Historic Preservation Month remind us that preservation is about more than saving places—it’s about protecting the stories and legacies tied to them.

This year’s Preservation Month theme, “All People Are Created Equal,” calls us to recognize whose stories have been preserved, and whose have been overlooked.

In our current exhibit, "Time and Tide," we tell the little-known story of the Chinese workers who helped build Petaluma’s early water systems by digging ditches, shaping creeks, and building reservoirs to enable the growth of our city.

They did this work while facing discrimination, low wages, and exclusion under laws like the Chinese Exclusion Act.

Today, places like Historic Chinatown Park (formerly Center Park) offer space to remember these histories—but it’s up to all of us to ensure the full story is told.

Visit "Time and Tide" through June 7 to learn more.

With thanks to Dr. Chingling Wo and Terry Park for their research, and to our friends and Petaluma Historic Chinatown Park Committee for their partnership in bringing these stories to light.

Photo: An unidentified Chinese laborer on a Sonoma County farm, 1902, courtesy Sonoma County Library.

05/11/2026

🪡 Call for Quilts!

The Petaluma Museum invites quiltmakers, artists, collectors, and community members to submit quilts for our upcoming exhibition The Fabric of Democracy: Quilts and the Power of the People.

As the US reaches its 250th anniversary, this exhibit explores how quilts have expressed civic ideals, illustrated community values, and called for social change across American history—from early nation-building to contemporary voices shaping the future.

We’re seeking historic and contemporary quilts that reflect identity, storytelling, and the many ways people have participated in and imagined American democracy.

Learn more and submit your quilt at: https://form.jotform.com/PetalumaMuseum/CallforQuilts

Help us stitch together a shared story!

05/09/2026

A beautiful cruise on the Petaluma River, inspired by our exhibit Time & Tide. Thanks to Dolphin Charters, Montagne Russe, and Preferred Sonoma Caterrs for a perfect afternoon!

05/07/2026

Great news... 4 tickets just became available for our cruise of the historic Petaluma River tomorrow, May 8, 4-6pm! Act now to get the final spots on this relaxing and enriching cruise along the Petaluma River—where history, ecology, and community come together. Your ticket includes a lovely glass of wine courtesy of our friends Montagne Russe Wines, a personal charcuterie box from Preferred Sonoma Caterers, and engaging narration in a beautiful, open-air setting.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1987954510455?aff=oddtdtcreator