News
Dia de los Muertos arrives early in the Sonoma Barracks
On Saturday, October 17th Sonoma State Historic Park, SPParks, and the La Luz Center hosted the 3rd annual Día de los Muertos movie night event at the Sonoma Barracks. The event was graciously underwritten by the City of Sonoma Community Service Grant Program. Read more.
Sonoma SHP Celebrates 115 years of Women’s Suffrage in California
Enthusiastic attendees learned about the history of women’s suffrage from numerous local historical and civic organizations at the Sonoma Barracks on Saturday, October 10, 2026. The new event, celebrating 115... Read more.
Sonoma’s Role in American Military History is Focus of New Book by Sonoma SHP Docent Travis Wagner
A new local history book, Military Honor on Trial: The Saga of Joseph Hooker and George H. Derby, by Travis P. Wagner, brings a dramatic 1851 Sonoma feud to life. Set against the backdrop of Gold Rush California, the book explores a bitter conflict between two strikingly different army officers stationed in Sonoma: the ambitious, arrogant Joseph Hooker — who would later achieve Civil War fame as “Fighting Joe” — and George H. Derby, a quick-witted comic on the rise as one of America’s first celebrity humorists. Read more.
Vallejo Home Reservoir Renovation Explained
Are you wondering what’s happening at the Lachryma Montis (Vallejo Home) reservoir? Sonoma State Historic Park’s Peter Ostroskie can explain. See video link below. VH Reservoir-Sep2026 Read more.
Monarchs & Marigolds – New Event Delights Sonoma
The Monarchs and Marigolds event was very much a success with more than 200 visitors. There were a variety of interactive activities for visitors to participate in such as butterfly origami, paper marigolds and decorating wooden butterflies, just to name a few. Plus, we hosted a guest speaker from the Xerces Society and showed a touching documentary on marigolds. Read more.
Nature Festival Welcomes Community
California State Parks once again hosted a wide array of fascinating exhibits in the annual Nature & Community Fair on Saturday, August 8th, 2026. Local environmental and civic organizations, as well as State Parks and SPParks, invited participation in environmental conservation, restoration, preservation and education. Read more.
Children’s Day Festival & Movie Night – Nacho Fiesta
Children's Day, on June 6, 2026, was a wonderfully fun event. Every guest and community partner was having a great time, and thankfully, it was a perfect night to be outside! The crafts were a hit, the nachos were a hit, and “Nacho Libre” was a hit. Read more.
Tea in the Historic Toscano Dining Room – Oh, so Tasty!
Many thanks to our devoted time travelers who joined us for Tea in the Toscano Kitchen on Sunday, May 31, 2026. Everyone was beautifully dressed on a beautifully sunny day, and, of course, the tea and treats were devine. Our annual fundraising event was sold out way in advance, a testament to the value of Sonoma’s treasured historic sites. Read more.
Toscano Tea SOLD OUT!
SOLD OUT! THANK YOU. The historic Toscano Kitchen, part of Sonoma State Historic Park, will host the third annual Toscano Tea on May 31, 2026. Read more.
History Lives on at Rancho de Petaluma
On Saturday May 9th, Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park ushered visitors back in time to the 1840's for Living History Day. Park staff and volunteers wore period attire to represent vaqueros, traders, and rancho workers. Visitors enjoyed participating in the crafts and activities that occurred at General Vallejo's Petaluma Adobe during the rancho period including rope making, wool spinning, basket weaving, blacksmithing, and woodworking. Read more.