What are the opening hours?

Saturday 1pm - 4pm Sunday 1pm - 4pm

Tomales Regional History Center

Name: Tomales Regional History Center
Address: 26701 Highway 1, Tomales, CA, 94971, US
Telephone: (707) 878-9443
Price range: $

Home
United States
Tomales, CA
Tomales Regional History Center

The Tomales History Center is a small northern California history museum. Our region covers western Marin and southwestern Sonoma Counties.

09/06/2026

🎉 HAPPENING TODAY: Join us at Tomales Fest! ✨ (Sunday Sept 6)

Looking for Labor Day weekend plans? Head over to Tomales Community Park starting at high noon (12:00 PM) for the 138th Tomales Festival!

What began in the 1880s as a Swiss-Italian community gathering is now a full day celebrating the heritage, culture, and spirit of West Marin and the Sonoma Coast.

Here is what’s waiting for you today:
🎶 Live Music: Catch the Blues Defenders lighting up the stage at Tomales Community Park.
🦪 Local Eats & Drinks: Fresh local oysters, delicious food options, plus a beer and wine booth.
🎨 Family Fun: Face painting, storybooks, and kids' activities.
📜 Artisans & Community: West Marin craft vendors, local non-profits, and historical displays.
📚 TRHC Booth: Drop by the Tomales Regional History Center table! Pick up local history books, snag official TRHC swag, and chat with our Volunteers.

Event Highlights:
📍 Where: Tomales, CA - Community Park
⏰ When: Today, Sunday, September 6th | Starts at 12:00 PM
🎟️ Admission: FREE!

All proceeds from this year's festival support the restoration and preservation of our 152-year-old Tomales Town Hall—one of the oldest community centers in California.
Come enjoy the sun, support local preservation, and celebrate our community.

See you there! 👋

09/04/2026

Give to the TRHC Scholarship Fund!
🎓 Double Your Impact for Local Students!

The Tomales Regional History Center is thrilled to announce a $5,000 Matching Grant to support our Scholarship Fund!

Every dollar you donate between now and December 1, 2026 will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $5,000, completely doubling the value of your gift.

Our Scholarship Fund provides vital financial aid—awarded on a merit and needs basis—to help Tomales area students pursue their educational dreams and build a bright future.

💡 Ready to make a difference?

Donate today and help us unlock the full $5,000 match by December 1.

📌 Visit our website: www.tomaleshistory.com/step-up/donate

📌 or Visit: https://givebutter.com/trhc-scholarship-fund

Thank you for investing in the next generation of our community! 💙

09/01/2026

School is back in session! ✏️📖

Taking a trip back to September 1962 at Marshall School.

Shown here working hard at their desks:
• Left row: Mary Jo Weller, Janet Vilicich
• Right row: Ingrid Angren (Angress), Madelyn Angren (Angress), Sandy Weller

Wishing all students, teachers, and families a fantastic school year ahead! ✨

📁 TRHC Collection, Accession # 2004-29

08/27/2026

Join us for Tomales Fest! ✨

The Tomales Regional History Center is excited to table at this year’s Tomales Festival on Sunday, September 6th!

Starting at high noon (12:00 PM), join us in honoring the rich, diverse history of West Marin and the Sonoma Coast. First celebrated in the 1880s as a Swiss-Italian gathering, this beloved 138-year-old tradition brings together our entire community for a day of local heritage, fun, and connection.

What to Expect:
Live Music: Dance to the North Bay's own Blues Defenders at Tomales Community Park 🎶

Food & Drink: Local oysters, delicious food options, plus a beer and wine booth 🦪🍷
For the Kids: Face painting, books, and children’s activities 🎨📚

Community & Craft: West Marin artisans, local non-profits, and historical displays 📜
TRHC Table: Stop by to pick up local history books for sale and check out our official TRHC swag! 📚🧢

Event Details:
When: Sunday, September 6, 2026 | Starts at 12:00 PM (Labor Day Sunday)
Where: Tomales, CA
Admission: FREE!

This year’s festival benefits the 152-year-old Tomales Town Hall, one of the oldest community centers in California. Drop by our table to grab some gear, chat about local history, and support the preservation of our iconic Town Hall!

See you there! 👋

📸
Images:
Tomales Regional History Center volunteers at the 1997 Tomales Festival. (Help us identify this group by sharing in the comments! 💬)

Historical photo of early Swiss Italian gathering in Tomales, CA. Circa 1890s

Promotional image of 2026 Tomales Fest

08/14/2026

📍 "This Little Dot Marks The Spot..."
Look what we stumbled upon in the Tomales Regional History Center archives... this fantastic vintage postcard! 📜✨

It reads:
"This Little Dot Marks The Spot You Once Called Home. HAVE YOU FORGOT?"

Well… have you? 😉

Whether you grew up right here in Tomales, spent your childhood summers wandering the coast, or moved away years ago—this little dot on the map is always waiting to welcome you back.

💬 Let’s connect in the comments:
When was the last time you came back home to visit Tomales? 🗓️

What’s the first stop you make whenever you’re back in town—the General Store, the bakery, the coast, a quiet drive through the hills, or a visit to the History Center?

Tag someone you used to roam these hills with, and tell them it’s time to plan a return trip! 🚗💨

Visit us!
We are open Weekends 1pm to 4pm
🗺️ 26701 Highway 1, Tomales, California 94971

07/31/2026

Pedal back in time with us! 🚴‍♂️💨
Meet John Alexander and Joseph Azevedo showing off their rides back in the day!

To everyone riding and cheering in the Marin Century tomorrow, August 1st: welcome! As you power through the gorgeous coastal roads, take a quick pit stop at the Tomales Regional History Center to fuel your curiosity with some local history.

Good luck, riders—see you soon! 🏆✨

07/28/2026

🤍 Honoring Suzanne M. Lang (1955–2026): Memorial Donation Drive

The Tomales Regional History Center is honored to support the family of Suzanne M. Lang by facilitating memorial gifts for two Northern California organizations that were deeply meaningful to her life and work.

A vibrant presence in West Marin and Sonoma Counties for four decades, Suzanne served as a dedicated TRHC Board Member, former production designer and editor of The Bulletin; and host of KRCB Public Radio’s A Novel Idea.

To honor her lasting legacy, contributions made in her memory will help ensure her passion for local history, storytelling, and community education continues to thrive.

🕊️ How to Donate:

1️⃣ Tomales Regional History Center

Online: Visit our In Memorium Page to read more about her life and to donate in her memory: https://www.tomaleshistory.com/in-memorium

By Mail: TRHC, PO Box 262, Tomales, CA 94971 (Please write "In Memory of Suzanne Lang" on the check memo line)

2️⃣ KRCB Northern California Public Media

Support public broadcasting and the home of A Novel Idea, where Suzanne shared thoughtful author interviews for over two decades.

Online: Visit NorCal Public Media at https://norcalpublicmedia.org/radio/radio

Thank you for helping us honor Suzanne’s memory and her indelible contributions to our region.

🩵 Share your memories of Suzanne in the comments 👇🏼

07/27/2026

👖 Who was the man behind the world’s most famous name in denim?

Everyone knows the name Levi Strauss, but few know the real story of the legendary merchant who helped shape California history.

Join us at the Tomales Regional History Center for an illustrated lecture and Q&A with historian and author Lynn Downey as she presents:

“Levi Strauss: The Man Who Gave Blue Jeans to the World”

Having spent 25 years as the official Historian for Levi Strauss & Co., Lynn will clear up the enduring myths surrounding Levi the man, share the true history of the invention of jeans, and uncover fascinating, lesser-known links between his story and West Marin.

📅 When: Sunday, September 20, 2026 at 2:00 PM

📍 Where: Tomales Regional History Center (26701 Highway One, Tomales, CA)

🎟️ Admission: FREE & open to all

🎙️ Lecture Series Curated by: Carin Jacobs, founder of Place Matters Sonoma

Arrive early to grab a seat and explore the museum before the talk!

07/21/2026

Missed Sunday’s lecture or want to watch it again? 🎥

The Facebook Live video of Dr. Sheli O. Smith’s fascinating presentation, "California’s Maritime Highways," is now available on our YouTube channel! 🚢⚓
👉 Watch the full recording here: https://youtu.be/peTBrNvVNMU

Be sure to subscribe to our channel for more lectures, history, and updates from the Tomales Regional History Center!

07/19/2026

We are welcoming Dr. Sheli Smith for the history of underwater maritime adventures

Address

26701 Highway 1
Tomales, CA
94971

Opening Hours

Saturday	1pm - 4pm
Sunday	1pm - 4pm

Telephone

(707) 878-9443

Website

http://tomaleshistory.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Tomales Regional History Center posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Want your museum to be the top-listed Museum in Tomales?