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 2023-24
OFFICERS:
Cynthia Berhtram
Angela Ryan
Co-Presidents
Elece Hempel, Vice-President
Megan Kelly, Recording Secretary
Treasurer – TBA
DIRECTORS:
Jenny Belway, Director
Rob Girolo, Director
KC Greaney, Director
Melissa Hatheway, Director
Molly Hill, Director
Melissa Holberton, Director
Elizabeth Walter, Director
Tom Whitley, Director
CITY OF PETALUMA BOARD LIAISONS:
Rachel Beer, Supervisor Parks & Recreation Dept.
Megan Kelly, Recreation, Music and Parks Commission
YOUTH ADVISORY MEMBER:
Sophia Alverde
Sam Martin
Staff
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:
Stacey Atchley
(not pictured)
Collections Manager, Solange Russek (center)
Museum Coordinator, Liz Cohee (right)
Membership Manager & Newsletter Editor, Mary Rowe (left)
Weekend Desk Docent, Kim Greenspan (not pictured)