NOVATO HISTORY MUSEUM HAMILTON FIELD HISTORY MUSEUM
In the historic 1850 Postmaster's House In the historic 1934 Firehouse
815 DeLong Avenue, Novato, CA 94945 555 Hangar Drive, Novato, CA 94949
(415) 897-4320 (415) 382-8614
Museum Hours (for both locations): Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday
12pm-4pm, or by appointment.
Closed on Holidays
Admission is Free
Tours are also available by appointment.
Please call the main number for each museum for more information.
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Novato Historical Guild
The Novato Historical Guild is a volunteer nonprofit organization founded in 1976 to staff and financially support the Novato History Museum and the Hamilton Field History Museum. The Guild has a partnership agreement with the City of Novato: the City owns the Museum buildings and the historical collections, and the Guild makes sure the Museums are open to the public, as well as are educational, inviting, and safe places to visit.
The Guild hosts quarterly membership meetings, which usually involve guest speakers on local history topics, and publishes The Novato Historian, a quarterly newsletter.
Membership in the Novato Historical Guild supports the preservation and interpretation of the history of Novato and Hamilton Field. Members receive a hard copy of the quarterly newsletter in the mail, The Novato Historian, gift shop discounts, and invitations to exclusive events.
Memberships
| Individual |
$20 yr |
Patron |
$100 yr |
| Family |
$30 yr |
Supporting |
$200 yr |
| Student |
$10 yr |
Life, Individual |
$350 |
Business
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$50 yr |
Life, Joint |
$500 |
Corporate Membership
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$1,000 yr |
Benefactor
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$1,000 yr |
Novato Historical Guild Membership Application and/or Membership Renewal Form (PDF)
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The Novato Historian
The quarterly publication of the Novato Historical Guild, concerning both the Novato History Museum and the Hamilton Field History Museum.
- Click here to read the current issue of The Novato Historian (PDF):
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Call for Volunteers
Come join our team! The museum is always looking for new volunteers. We are eager to pair you with a project that meets your skills and interests. Here are some existing volunteer opportunities. If you have something else in mind, please let us know.
MUSEUM DOCENT: We are looking for docents to volunteer once a month for four hours on a Wednesday, Thursday, or Saturday afternoon, 12-4pm. Docents staff the museums during open hour, including greeting museum visitors and assisting patrons with any questions they may have regarding the collections. We will provide training.
SCHOOL TOUR DOCENT: Third Grade tours begin in late March and run through early June. If you are interested in becoming a school tour docent, you may attend our docent training that occurs in early March of each year. You do not need to commit to becoming a docent to attend the training, and new docents have the opportunity to shadow more experienced docents for a number of tours. For more information, call the Museum, 415-897-4320, and leave a message for Cindy Motsinger, one of the 3rd Grade Tour program managers. She will contact you to discuss the program.
ORAL HISTORY PROJECT: The museum has an on-going community oral history project. We will provide training for anyone interested in volunteering for this project, whether as an interviewer or as an oral history recording transcriber.
ARCHIVES: If you have library experience, or like to organize books, documents, maps, and photos, let us know.
COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT: We are cataloging and re-packing all of our artifacts in the museum's collection; this is a good opportunity for anyone seeking museum experience or wishing to learn about artifact handling, as well as learning to use the PastPerfect museum collections database.
CLERICAL WORK: Filing and word-processing.
FUNDRAISING AND EVENTS: We are looking for people who have fundraising experience or enjoy helping with events.
FACILITY SUPPORT: Volunteers assist in all aspects of maintaining the Museum structures and grounds. Througout the year, we have quarterly work parties, which may include landscaping, power washing, interior touch-up painting, and decorating the interior and exterior of our buildings for the holidays, among other projects. Handy and/or willing people are gladly welcomed to this team!
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Related Links
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Gift Shop
The Museum Gift Shop has the perfect unique gift!
Besides the items shown below, there are gifts such as books, notecards,
T-shirts, and sweatshirts available.
The Gift Shop is open during our regular public hours.
For more information, please call the Novato History Museum at 415-897-4320.
Order Form (PDF)
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Novato Township - Land Grant to World War II
by May Ungemach
The definitive history of the Novato and north Marin area with over 300 historic photos and maps. (496 pages) $30.50 |
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A Brief History of Hamilton Army Airfield
Describes the early conception of coastal airfields in the 1920's, the efforts of local citizens to acquire land for an airfield during the Depression, a day in the life at Hamilton, and women service units before and during WWII. (12 pages) $2.00 |
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"Mission Accomplished" DVD
Shows historical film footage of the designing and building of Hamilton Army Air Field, explores the military units that served before and after WWII, its roles as Hamilton AFB, and post-AFB uses, including the housing Southeast Asian refugees following the Vietnam War. Produced by the Army Corps of Engineers. (28 min.) $15.00
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"City of Novato Early Years" DVD (previously on video)
A narrative and pictorial description of the historical development of downtown Novato. (15 min.) $15.00
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Coffee Mug
Off-white ceramic with dark brown Novato History Museum logo. $5.00
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Tote Bag (Novato History Museum)
Rugged cotton bag with double straps. Comes in red, royal blue, navy blue, and black. $15.00 |
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Leather Goods
Unique quality leather goods with the picture of the Novato City Hall on the front. These leather items are manufactured by a local Novato company.
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Coin Purse $15.00 |
Card Holder $12.50 |
Purse w/strap $23.00 |
Novato History Collector Cards
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Our famous Collector Cards - 42 cards depicting historical buildings and people from Novato.
Entire set $12.00
Pack of 10 cards $3.00
Individual cards $.30
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