Petaluma Attractions

Antiques & Art Galleries
Petaluma's Historic Downtown is packed with antique buildings and has become a regional center for antiques shopping. More than 150 antiques dealers in 32 shops have a variety of tempting items including antiques, collectibles, dolls and jewelry.

Check the Calendar of Events for Petaluma's Downtown Antique Faires, held the last Sunday of April and September and featuring about 200 vendors against an outdoor backdrop of historic buildings and colorful rolling hills.

Local art galleries often feature works by nationally and internationally known artists as well as more regional works in a wide variety of mediums. Petaluma has a thriving artists community and a strong community commitment to the arts.

Petaluma's Art and Garden Festival on July 10 in Historic Downtown offers an afternoon of fine wines and delicious delicacies, good music and art.

An added feature of the Art & Garden Festival, new this year, is the Art Pavilion featuring works in a variety of media by area artisans on view in one area. The Art Pavilion is sponsored by the Petaluma Arts Associationin lieu of the annual Open Studios tour.

During September the annual Art in the Park outdoor art show and sale features a diversity of media from painting to photography in another charming, picturesque setting at Walnut Park, on Petaluma Boulevard South and "D" Street.
Area artists open their studios and display new works during the Sonoma County-wide ARTrails Open Studio Tours, set for two weekends in October. See the Calendar of Events, or www.sonomaarts.org for details about these and other art events throughout the year.

Military Museum
The Petaluma Collective, at 300 Petaluma Blvd. No., is the home of the Sgt. Richard Penry Medal of Honor Memorial Military Museum where a World War I trench diorama, World War II home front items, World War II German "Afrika Korps" items, military motorcycles, and more are on display.

Admission is free and the attraction is open daily 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Group tours are welcome with advance notice for groups of more than 10 people.

At the same location, visit the largest Military antique and collectibles store in the United States. See soldier art, including watercolors, oils, sculpture and relics from the Civil War to World War II; including uniforms, swords, headgear, medals, badges and non-functioning weapons.

Call 763-2220 or visit www.militaryantiquesmuseum.com for more information.

Petaluma Historical Library and Museum
The former Carnegie library building at 20 Fourth St. in Historic Downtown now houses Petaluma history exhibits from the 1850s. The building itself is a piece of local history, the cornerstone was laid in 1904 and it was designed by local architect Brainerd Jones and built from locally quarried stone. It is in the neo-classical style, featuring an exquisite freestanding leaded glass dome, original fan-glass windows, round leaded-glass windows, original interior wood paneling and columns. It also houses a fine research library and a great gift shop.

Permanent exhibits at the Museum include historical poultry and dairy items, Miwok Indian artifacts and the Petaluma River history. Rotating exhibits throughout the year fill adjacent spaces. Museum hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a. m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 3 p.m. Admission is free, with donations appreciated.

Weekend history walks with costumed docents begin at 10:30 a.m. on most Saturdays and first and third Sunday from May through October. No tours on days of major Downtown events. The Museum is a good source of visitor information, and a "must" for heritage hounds. For more information, call 778-4398 or visit www.petalumamuseum.com on the web. For special events details, call 762-4247.

Petaluma Wildlife & Natural Science
This attraction features animals, minerals, fossils, prehistoric artifacts and hands-on exhibits. Small live mammals, reptiles and amphibians as well as African, Asian, Arctic and North American artifacts are on display. The Petaluma Wildlife Museum is located at 201 Fair St., in the back of the parking lot next to the Petaluma High School campus. The museum is usually open to the public the first Saturday of each month during the school year, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tours are by arrangement. Call 778-4787 before going.

Farmers Market
There's a fresh local produce market and weekly entertainment from 2 to 5 p.m. every Saturday from May through October in Walnut Park at Petaluma Boulevard South and "D" Street. Call 762-0344 for details or consult the Calendar of Events for starting and ending dates.

Farm Trails
Pick up a free Sonoma County Farm Trails map at the Petaluma Visitor Center, 800 Baywood Drive and hit the road to explore Petaluma and Sonoma County farms. Fruits, vegetables, plants and trees are available direct from the farmer. A "life-on-the-farm" experience featuring sheep, llamas, honeybees, butterflies and, of course, chickens is included in some Farm Trails visits.

While touring local farms, don miss the Lavender Bee Farm at 704 Chapman Lane. This farm was created on a 3-acre family farm that was established in 1947. Provence, English and Grosso lavender varities are currently grown and there are more than 20 bee hives at the farm to help the lavender grow more beautiful and to create the popular lavendar honey. Lavendar products and honey are sold on most weekends at the small farm store or by appointment. Call 707-789-0554 for details.

Seasonal adventures include pumpkins and gourds in the fall, Christmas trees in the winter and baby nimals, and fields of flowers in the spring! Enjoy delightful wineries, cheese factories and more year 'round. Buying on the farm provides more than just groceries; it offers an experience to last a lifetime. For information or a map, call 800-207-9464, 571-8288 or go to www.farmtrails.org on the web.

Some area farms also provide lovely settings for special events. For example, Flying Cloud Farm at 1200 Jacobsen Lane has a 33-acre special events center and winery available for weddings and other events. Call 765-4433 for details or go to www.flyingcloudfarm.com on the web. Go to Meeting Facilities for a comprehensive list of conference, meeting and special event spaces to rent.