Novato History Museum
815 DeLong Avenue Novato, CA 94945
(415) 897-4320
The Novato History Museum, founded by Mrs. Margaret "Peg" Coady in 1976, is located in the home of Novato's first Postmaster, Henry F. Jones. The building, possibly the oldest dwelling in Novato, may have been one of several houses constructed by Ramon Pacheco circa 1850. It stood in the original "Old Town" on South Novato Blvd. near Yukon Way. Donated to the City of Novato in 1972, the building was moved to its present location and restored by volunteer members of the Novato Civic Foundation.
Hours: Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday
Noon-4pm (also by appointment)
Closed on Holidays
Admission is Free
Tours are also available by appointment.
Please call (415) 897-4320
Directions to Museum
North 101: Take the DeLong Avenue exit. Turn left at the top of the exit.
Turn left at the second stoplight, onto Reichert.
Turn right immediately into the driveway.
South 101: Take the DeLong Avenue exit. Turn right at the top of the exit ramp.
Turn left at the Reichert stoplight.
Turn right immediately into the driveway.
There are several parking spots adjacent to the Museum.
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Tours
School Tours: Every spring the Novato Historical Guild leads Novato's 3rd graders through a historic tour of Novato. The cost is free to schools. For more information, call Susan Trumbull, 897-1617. Tours begin in March and end in early June.
General Tours: If you'd like to schedule a group tour of the museum and downtown area give we can arrange it. Tours to Girls Scouts, Brownies or Boy Scouts are free. For large groups we suggest a donation of $100.
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Novato Historical Guild
The Novato Historical Guild is a volunteer nonprofit organization founded in 1976 to staff and support the Novato History Museum.
Guided tours of the Museum, Historic Old Town, Pioneer Cemetery and Hamilton Field are available to groups by appointment. Call (415) 897- 4320
The Guild hosts quarterly membership meetings and publishes The Novato Historian, a quarterly newsletter.
Membership in the Novato Historical Guild supports the preservation and interpretation of the history of Novato. Members receive a quarterly newsletter, The Novato Historian, gift shop discount and invitations to exclusive events.
Memberships
| Individual |
$15 yr |
Patron |
$100 yr |
| Family |
$25 yr |
Supporting |
$200 yr |
| Student |
$5 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 and the Novato History Museum
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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. We will provide training.
SCHOOL TOUR DOCENT: Third Grade tours begin in March and run through early June. If you are interested in becoming a school tour docent, you may attend our docent training on Thursday, February 27th from 9:30-11:30 a.m.. You do not need to commit to becoming a docent to attend the training. Come and see if this is something you might like to do. For more information, call Susan Trumbull, 897-1617.
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.
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 and record keeping.
CLERICAL WORK: Filing and word-processing.
FUNDRAISING AND EVENTS: We are looking for people who have fundraising experience or enjoy helping with events.
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Related Links
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Early Novato Area History
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Camilo's daughters, (left) Maria Maxima and Maria Antonia |
Once the hills and valleys of Novato were the hunting grounds of Miwok Indians who had a village north of Novato at Olompali which is now a State Historic Park. In 1843, Olompali was granted to a Native American, Camilo Ynitia, who raised wheat and became a successful cattle breeder.
The area that now includes Ignacio, Hamilton Field, and Bel Marin Keys was once part of land granted to Ignacio Pacheco. His descendants still reside in the old Pacheco home (shown here) on a portion of the original land grant.
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Old Pacheco Home |
Novato Rancho
Most of the present City of Novato was known as Rancho de Novato in 1839 when it was granted to Fernando Feliz who served in the Mexican Army. The Rancho had a number of owners before Francis DeLong and Joseph Sweetser formed a partnership and bought the property about 1856
Francis DeLong (left) and Joseph Sweetser (right) planted one of the largest orchards in the world. Their fruit was shipped throughout the United States and to several other countries. The home they built ca. 1865 still serves as a dwelling today.
In 1879, Sweetser sold most of his share of the Novato Rancho to his partner, DeLong. When Francis DeLong died in 1885, he left his estate to his son, Frank Coye DeLong.
The Home and Farm Company purchased the Black Point Ranch from DeLong in 1888 and divided the 6,000 acres into lots and sold them as business and residential sites. That was the "new town of Novato".
Hamilton Army Field
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Lt. Lloyd Hamilton
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Businessmen and residents worked together to locate Hamilton Air Field in Marin County in order to provide jobs during the Depression.
Dedicated in 1935, Hamilton Air Field was named in honor of Lt. Lloyd Hamilton (right), the first American pilot to fly with the Royal Flying Corps during W.W.I.
This airfield was a prime World War II bomber, pursuit and transport aircraft facility. Below is a Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" at Hamilton Field in June 1938. Military memorabilia is on display on our museum.
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Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" at Hamilton Field |
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Township to City
| 1850 |
California admitted to the Union |
| 1850 |
First large home built in Novato by Bezar Simmons |
| 1856 |
Post office established-operated out of the building that is now the History Museum |
| 1858 |
School built on property owned by Sweetser and DeLong |
| 1861 |
Charlotte Haven, first person buried in Novato Cemetery |
| 1870 |
County builds road across Sweetser and DeLong property |
| 1875 |
Novato Grammar school established on land deeded by Sweetser & DeLong (near today's Police Station) |
| 1879 |
Opening of first train depot for Northwestern Pacific railroad line |
| 1889 |
Loustaunau Hall built (now Druid Hall) |
| 1890 |
Our Lady of Loretto, first church built (there have been two incarnations since) |
| 1903 |
Second train depot built, first depot moved |
| 1907 |
Novato Sanatorium, the first hospital, was established in the Oliver House on Railroad Ave. (a former residence) |
| 1908 |
Telephone service provided by Will Cain who took over the Sunset Telephone Company |
| 1911 |
Electricity provided to some as W. Cain built a substation at Black Point |
| 1912 |
Running water provided to some by Will Cain and Al, his brother |
| 1913 |
Novato Bank established, the first in Novato |
| 1915 |
Chamber of Commerce founded |
| 1916 |
Novato Utilities incorporated to include electricity, water and phone |
| 1917 |
Third depot built after the second burned |
| 1922 |
Concrete sidewalks begin to appear in downtown
Black Point Cutoff (Highway 37) constructed
Novato Advance begins publication (the first paper, The Banner, had ceased publication)
Canal dredged two mile cutoff to railroad |
| 1923 |
Community House dedicated |
| 1924 |
Grant Avenue paved |
| 1925 |
Sanitary District established
Will Cain commissioner for first Novato Fair |
| 1927 |
Library established on second floor of Community House |
| 1929 |
Great Depression hits the nation |
| 1932 |
Hamilton Field construction begins |
| 1945 |
End of WWII
Novato Theater built |
| 1948 |
Formation of North Marin County Water District |
| 1952 |
Work on Stafford Dam begins |
| 1956 |
Novato High School opens, students no longer need to go to San Rafael |
| 1958 |
Northwestern Pacific ends passenger service |
| 1960 |
Novato incorporated (826 Grant Ave. was the headquarters for the city) |
| 1961 |
Police Department becomes a City agency, first housed in the railroad depot |
| 1963 |
City Hall is created in what was the Presbyterian Church |
| 1974 |
October, Highway 101 North freeway (three lanes) complete
December, Highway 101 South, "one hour there was traffic in downtown Novato, the next hour there was just a trickle." |
| 1975 |
Deactivation of Hamilton Field |
| 1976 |
Novato History Museum established |
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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 museum at 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" video
Shows historical film footage of designing and building Hamilton AFB, military units that served before and after WWII, and housing Southeast Asian refugees following the Vietnam War. (28 min.) $25.00
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"City of Novato Early Years" 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
Rugged cotton bag with double straps. Comes in red, beige, royal blue, navy blue, and black. $5.00 |
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Thimble
Ceramic thimble 1" high x ¾" diameter with Novato History Museum logo. $1.00 |
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 $15.00 |
Purse w/strap $28.00 |
Handcrafted Ornaments Wonderfully detailed dough ornaments made by a Bay Area artist.
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| Novato City Hall $10.00 |
Novato History Museum $7.00 |
Hamilton History Museum $12.50 |
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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