The Petaluma Museum Building and Exhibits

 

The former library now houses Petaluma poultry, dairy, and Miwok Indian history exhibits from the 1850s. The cornerstone for this stately Carnegie Library was laid in 1904. The building, designed by local architect Brainerd Jones and built from locally quarried stone, features the largest free-standing leaded glass dome in Northern California. The building is in the neo-classical style, featuring original fan-glass windows, round leaded-glass windows, also original interior wood paneling and columns. It also houses a fine research library.

Six Carnegie Libraries were built in Sonoma County and three remain. In addition to Petaluma’s, Healdsburg’s is also a museum and Sonoma’s houses the Visitors Bureau. Of the 144 Carnegie libraries in California, 87 are still standing and a majority is still used for libraries. Others serve as museums, art and community centers and other municipal functions; a few are in private ownership.

Narrative written by Lucy Kortum, Historian

The Museum’s History as Petaluma’s Carnegie Library

Petaluma’s was one of 2,509 library buildings constructed in towns and neighborhoods throughout the English-speaking world between 1886 and 1919 with the aid of Carnegie funds. Prior to that, most libraries were either small and always on the move in search of a site, or were individual large libraries built by major donors. Carnegie’s philanthropy addressed the need of municipal libraries for buildings of their own. He did not dictate the architectural style. Petaluma’s like many, reflected the expression of community pride in public buildings stimulated by Chicago’s 1894 Columbian Exposition. More importantly, Carnegie required that the cities contribute the land for the building and pass a tax equal annually to 10% of his gift to furnish and support the library. The result was the institutionalization of community commitment to maintenance of their library and its collection.

Retrofit Concerns 2022

Seismic retrofitting still looms for Petaluma Museum that has stood the test of time

 A January 6, 2022 article for the Argus Courier written by Katherine J. Rinehart
https://www.petaluma360.com/article/news/seismic-retrofitting-still-looms-for-petaluma-museum-that-has-stood-the-tes/

The Museum’s Glass Dome

The Petaluma Historical Library & Museum is home to one of the largest free standing stained glass domes in Northern California. Constructed of stained, tinted glass and iron, the dome sustained minor damage during the 1906 earthquake just prior to the opening of the Carnegie Library. The dome is held in place by a series of guy wires which are attached to the roof of the building. The wires allow the dome to “float” in place and remain immune to the periodic expanding and contracting of the surrounding structure. The arch is protected by a pyramid-shaped glass enclosure that allows natural light to filter down through the dome and into the central atrium of the museum. Visitors to the Petaluma Historical Library & Museum have been known to stand in awe, heads tilted upward, as they observe the beauty of the dome.

Board of Directors

Board of Directors 2025-26 

OFFICERS:

Melissa Hatheway, President

TBA, Vice-President

Elece Hempel, Recording Secretary

Eric Vazquez-Izaguirre, Treasurer

DIRECTORS:

Cynthia Berhtram

Jocelyne Curran

Caroline Hall

Matt Henning

Melissa Holberton

Pete Vilmur

CITY OF PETALUMA BOARD LIAISONS: 

Drew Halter, Director Parks & Recreation Dept.

Nicole Stark, Parks & Recreation Dept.

Stacey Earl, Recreation, Music and Parks Commission

YOUTH ADVISORY MEMBER: 

Stella Craig
Rory Davis-Jones

 

Staff

 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:
Stacey Atchley

Linda Gibson –  Weekend Docent
Kim Greenspan – Community Engagement Coordinator
Erica N. Hannel – Advancement Assistant
Rory Davis-Jones – Weekend Docent

For the City of Petaluma:
Collections Manager, Solange Russek
Museum Coordinator, Liz Cohee

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement
Petaluma Historical Library & Museum

We believe that history belongs to everyone. We acknowledge that history has often been told through a narrow lens that excluded the experiences of many. We are committed to preserving and sharing the rich and complex stories that define our community.

As a museum rooted in place and community, inspired by the City of Petaluma’s ongoing commitment to human rights, inclusivity, and equity—including its Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging statement and Resolutions 2017-032 N.C.S., 2021-040 N.C.S., 2023-163 N.C.S., and 2025-019 N.C.S.—we embrace our responsibility as a cultural institution to create a space that is welcoming, respectful, and representative of all people by:

    • Uplifting the voices and histories of Indigenous peoples, immigrants, people of color, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people with disabilities, and others whose stories have been marginalized;
    • Confronting the legacies of racism, xenophobia, antisemitism, and other forms of hate and extremism;
    • Reaffirming our belief that all people—regardless of immigration status, race, religion, gender identity, or background—deserve dignity, safety, and belonging.

We recognize that diversity is not only a strength but a necessity for an authentic understanding of our shared past. Therefore, we commit to:

    • Inclusive collecting and exhibit practices that reflect the full breadth of our
      community’s history;
    • Programming that fosters dialogue, empathy, and civic engagement;
    • Equitable policies and partnerships that advance access and participation for all;
    • A continuous process of reflection and learning within our organization.

As the City of Petaluma affirmed in its resolutions, inclusivity and community trust are vital to a healthy and resilient society. We are proud to stand with our city in creating a future that is informed by truth, shaped by justice, and enriched by the diversity of our community.

Adopted by the Petaluma Museum Association Board of Directors, April 2, 2025.

Land Acknowledgement

The Petaluma Museum occupies the ancestral lands of the Coast Miwok people. The name “Petaluma” is derived from one of several nearby Coast Miwok and Southern Pomo villages, occupied at the time of European Contact. We respect and honor with gratitude the land itself and the people who have stewarded it throughout generations, as well as the present-day community of descendants of Indigenous Peoples who continue to carry forward their culture.