Petaluma: History, Art and Nature

Petaluma offers a range of travel interests: city history and architecture, museum culture, art, nature along the river, paddling and local market life. The following places and offerings focus on different aspects. As you plan, you can consider whether you’d like to shape your stay primarily around culture, nature or an activity on the water.

City History and Museum

Historic Downtown Petaluma is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and features iron-front architecture. Petaluma History Spots offers a smartphone-based, self-guided experience featuring more than 20 historic sites in the downtown area; you can listen to the experience on your smartphone at any time. This lets you explore downtown from two perspectives: through its visible architecture and audio content about historic sites. The self-guided format offers a different way to engage with the history than viewing the facades, and suits travelers who want to choose for themselves which content to focus on as they listen.

The Petaluma Historical Library and Museum is housed in a former Carnegie library built in 1904. Its year of construction and former use as a library give the building a clear historical connection. The museum hosts special exhibitions, lecture series and musical performances throughout the year. Compared with the self-guided smartphone content offered by History Spots, the museum provides formats ranging from exhibitions to music. This gives you a choice of different ways to engage with culture: listening independently at historic sites and attending a year-round events program.

Art and Petaluma River Park

Petaluma River Park is home to Huru, a 38-foot-tall sculpture. Mark di Suvero built it in Petaluma in 1984–1985. Its height, artist and construction dates give the artwork a specific connection to the city’s history and make it a clear point of interest for art enthusiasts. Petaluma River Park is open daily from dawn to dusk; the main entrance is at 100 East D Street, Petaluma, CA 94952. As opening hours and access rules may change, please check the information before your visit.

Nature, Water and Market Life

Shollenberger Park is a 165-acre wetland and wildlife refuge bordering the Petaluma River. This gives it a different character from Historic Downtown and the art at River Park: the focus here is on a wetland, wildlife protection and direct access to the river’s edge. When choosing your travel interests, you can consider this nature-focused setting alongside the downtown area’s historical and cultural themes.

Paddle The Petaluma is a paddling adventure on the Petaluma River. Unlike the description of a natural area, the focus here is on an activity on the water. The two river connections are therefore not the same for travel-planning purposes: Shollenberger Park borders the river; Paddle The Petaluma refers to paddling on it.

The East Side Farmers Market operates year-round. Local farmers, food makers, craftspeople and small businesses are represented there. This mix of agriculture, food crafts, artisan crafts and small businesses gives the market a different character from the cultural institutions and natural areas. Alongside architecture, museums and nature, it offers a distinct look at local market life.

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