This year’s quilt was 60 x 72 inches with a pattern, in shades of blue, called “Seeing Double”.

Our quilter was Diane Rowan, who grew up on a dairy ranch a mile north of Tomales and began sewing as a young girl. An alumna of Tomales High, she recalls proms, concerts, and plays in the very building which now houses the History Center. Her mom, Hattie Rowan, was an original founder of the TRHC.

As a flight attendant, Diane traveled the world, and it was while living in Hawaii that she became interested in quilting. Diane currently lives in South Carolina but remains connected to this place of family and friends.

No crab for Christmas. Cancelled salmon season. Rockfish under stress. Our local fishing industry is hanging on by a thread. Come get a status report from local commercial fisherman Dick Ogg of the Bodega Bay Fisherman’s Marketing Association, who keeps track of it all. He is a fierce advocate for the industry, sustainability, and what we want to happen… and not what we don’t.

Join Suzanne Lang of NPR in conversation with one of the most recognizable personalities in American culture, Peter Coyote. Since 1967, Peter has worked in over 100 films, provided Emmy-award winning narration in 160 projects including many Ken Burns historical documentaries, written five books, in addition to being an influential activist and Zen Buddhist. Guaranteed to be a fascinating afternoon.

Watch the video on YouTube

Historian Dewey Livingston presents an illustrated talk on themes in his long-awaited book Point Reyes and Tomales Bay: A History of the Land and Its People.

The 584-page book covers the Point Reyes Peninsula, Olema Valley, and Tomales Bay, including the east shore towns of Marshall, Hamlet, Fisherman’s, and even the legendary Muldrow City.

Missed the event? Click here to watch the video.

Sunday, July 13th, at 2:00 PM

The talk Saving Point Reyes: How an Epic Conservation Victory Became a Tipping Point for Environmental Action Policy has been canceled.

Gerald Warburg, Professor of Public Policy at the University of Virginia, will present a discussion of his new, highly acclaimed history of the Pt. Reyes National Seashore and the decades-long effort to save this iconic region from over-development and environmental degradation.

The Coast Miwok people, now known as the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, have an enduring presence as a living community for 4000 years. This engaging talk will showcase the importance of cultural resilience and stewardship of the land in Sonoma and Marin Counties, from ancestral traditions to contemporary projects.

Missed the lecture? Watch it on YouTube

Join Richard Dillman, President of the Maritime Radio Historical Society, and learn the story of how the stations were built, why they were built, and why their service finally ended in 1973.

In addition, there was a visit to the Bolinas facility.

Missed the lecture? See the recording here

See the recording on YouTube here.

Once home to an estuary that fed into Tomales Bay and the Pacific Ocean, Tomales Station is now 500 acres of rolling hills full of grass and clover providing the perfect home for the Highland cattle so visible from town. Long horned, shaggy, and double-coated, Highlands are primarily raised for meat, which is regarded as the highest of quality and low in cholesterol.  Ted and Laddie Hall,  through their Long Meadow Ranch, invest in extensive local conservation efforts.   At their Farmstead restaurant in St Helena,  Long Meadow Ranch’s celebrated American farmhouse cuisine is rooted in the Hall family tradition of showcasing ingredients fresh from our farm, ranch, and vineyards.  Come hear the story behind these incredible, iconic cows!

See the YouTube recording: Dewey Livingston: A New History of Tomales Bay

Dewey Livingston, California historian and author,  Director of the Jack Mason Museum of West Marin is our speaker.  Dewey in known for collecting rich oral histories,  deep studies of archives, photos, maps and documents.  He has roamed the Internet searching for new information about our local culture for 40 years. A crowd favorite,  Dewey has written a book about Point Reyes and Tomales Bay, and shares many of his insights and newly-discovered bits of history.  Not to be missed!

In 2022, Michael Von der Porten of the Drake Navigator Guild led a hike to the site where it is believed at Sir Francis Drake landed on our shores. The hike was such a success that it is being held again! No reservation necessary. The hike is 3 miles or so round trip on hard sand. Meet at Drake’s Beach Ken Patrick Visitor Center at 10:00a. (ATTENTION!! This is NOT the main Pt Reyes Visitor Center!) The event will begin with a short history of the research and discovery. You can brig a chair and snack. Wear layers and comfortable shoes. This is a public hike so bring friends. NO DOGS!

Additional dates available with full onsite lecture: Sat July 22; Sat Aug 26; Sat Sept 30 10:00a - 2:00p

Sponsored by the Rancho Bodega Historical Society                                                      

It's the 50th Anniversary of Fish Fest, a beloved community event.  How did it begin? Hear unique stories from over the years!  DON’T MISS!  A special exhibit of 50 years of Fish Fest posters will be on display at the Tomales History Center from mid-March to mid-June!   The Exhibit Reception was on March 19 at the Tomales History Center in Tomales.