Petaluma Historical Museum

06/19/2026

On Juneteenth, we reflect on the long struggle for freedom and the many ways those stories have been remembered, preserved, and shared.

A display case in our new exhibit, The Fabric of Democracy: Quilts and the Power of the People, explores the Underground Railroad Quilt Code—the idea that certain quilt patterns may have served as messages for enslaved people seeking freedom. See replica quilt blocks and learn how patterns such as Flying Geese, Crossroads, and North Star may have provided guidance and navigation in the pursuit of freedom.

Visit The Fabric of Democracy: Quilts and the Power of the People through August 2 at the Petaluma Museum! Thanks to our partners and City of Petaluma Parks and Recreation for their support of this exhibit.

06/19/2026

Step Into Petaluma's Story at the Fair!

The Petaluma Museum is bringing history to life with an immersive walk-through exhibit celebrating the people, farms, ranches, and innovations that shaped our community.

Explore Petaluma's agricultural journey—from Indigenous stewardship, the rise of the Ranchos, and Gold Rush-era agriculture to the egg boom and today's organic dairies.

🚜 See our historic 1925 egg delivery truck
📸 Discover rarely seen historic photographs
🐣 View a vintage egg incubator and agricultural artifacts
🎥 Watch historic footage of Petaluma life and farming
🐔 Snap a photo with artist Michael Garlington's amazing City of Petaluma seal

Whether you're a lifelong local or visiting for the first time, this exhibit offers a fun and fascinating look at the stories that continue to shape Petaluma today.

📍 Petaluma Fair Expo Hall
📅 June 18–21

Special thanks to our community partners for helping bring this exhibit to life: The City of Petaluma - Government, City of Petaluma Parks and Recreation, artist Garlington, and Minuteman Press.

Come celebrate our past, explore our present, and help imagine our future.

06/13/2026

What do a quilt, a community celebration, and a good old-fashioned fair have in common? They're all ways we come together to share stories, celebrate traditions, and strengthen community. As our nation approaches its 250th anniversary, we're exploring the connections that continue to shape both America and Petaluma.

Inside our latest newsletter:
🧵 The Fabric of Democracy: Quilts and the Power of the People
🚜 Our immersive Petaluma Fair installation
⭐ Common Threads Community Quilt Project
🎤 Stitched Together quiltmaker conversation
🔔 July 4 Bell Ringing & Community Celebration

There's something for everyone this season. We hope you'll join us!

Read our latest newsletter and learn how to get involved:
https://conta.cc/4vE8gIi

06/09/2026

As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, join the Petaluma Museum for a powerful exhibition exploring how quilts have helped shape, reflect, and challenge American democracy for more than 200 years.

Featuring historic and contemporary quilts, The Fabric of Democracy examines themes of freedom, justice, identity, community, environmental stewardship, and civic participation. These extraordinary works reveal how ordinary people have used needle and thread to express their hopes, values, and visions for the future of our nation.

The exhibition will also feature Common Threads: A Community Quilt Project, inviting local residents to contribute their own stories and aspirations as part of a collaborative quilt inspired by our annual July 4 Wish Wall.

Join us as we reflect on our shared history, celebrate community voices, and imagine what comes next.

Special thanks to The City of Petaluma - Government and City of Petaluma Parks and Recreation supporting this exhibition and related community programming as we commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary.

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