Napa County Historical Society Museum: Napa's Past on Display
The Napa County Historical Society Museum and Goodman Library is a long name for the narrow, two-story building on downtown Napa’s main street. But the 1902 Napa County Historical Society's museum/library makes up for its modest size with a long history and a rich collection that dips well back into the 19th Century.
Most museum exhibits are on the ground floor, including photos of Napa County’s most historic buildings—some dating to the early 1800s—and a collection of the hats women wore while attending formal teas in the building while gentlemen played billiards in the adjacent room. The pool tables are gone, but teas are still held three times a year (December, Valentine’s weekend and Mother’s Day), with women attending encouraged to wear period costumes.
There’s also a gallery of changing exhibits, with a new one each quarter. Displayed until the end of February: “From Battleships to Apron Strings: How WWII created Napa’s Swingin’ 50s.” During the rest of 2011 are “Retrospect Revisited: Community Art Reflecting History” (March to June), “California Women Suffrage,” a celebration of the centennial year of women getting the vote in California (July-August), “Napa’s Family Tree,” on the founding families of Napa County (September to Thanksgiving) and “Victorian Christmas” (Thanksgiving to January 2012).
The Goodman Library upstairs is the oldest continuously operating library in the state. A modern library has opened a few blocks away, but the Goodman still functions as a research library dedicated to all aspects of local history. A research librarian can assist you, as she has archived thousands of news clippings, manuscripts and old photos. There’s also a collection of artifacts from local Native American tribes displayed in the library.
HelloSanFrancisco Tip: Nearby is the delightful Napa Firefighters Museum (open Wed. to Sat., 11-4) at 1201 Main Street. It’s also worth a visit, and it’s also free. And on the two-block walk between museums is even more history, as you’ll go right past several 19th-Century buildings, notably the Napa Opera House, built in 1880.
Posted by Bob Cooper
