 The History of Petaluma
The Petaluma River has a early and long history. Those who prospered from the river include the Petaluma Native Americans, Spanish Explorers and Mexican vaqueros. The River played an integral part in the success of the city and at one time, it was the third busiest commercial wateway in all of California. Produce, people, products and perhaps most notably, eggs, were transported between the northern counties and San Francisco. In the 19th Century, Petaluma became not only the largest -but- the wealthiest town in Sonoma, Marin and Mendocino counties. Petaluma’s poultry industry dates back to 1858, however, it wasn't until 1875 that business soared. Canadian born, Petaluman Lyman C. Byce invented the first practical chicken incubator and Petaluma became rich. From the late 1800s and through the 1940s, hundreds of chicken farms were established in the Petaluma Valley and profits from the egg business poured into the town. The combination of Byce’s incubator and the city’s ideal shipping location on the Petaluma River enabled the city to flourish and an incredible building boom ensued - most of which is still standing today. At one time, Petaluma was known as the "Chicken Capital of the World" or the "World's Egg Basket". It was also known as the home of the world's first and only chicken pharmacy and was featured in National Geographic and in Ripley's Believe or Not. A National Egg Day was launched on August 13, 1918 and was celebrated each year until 1926. Festivities included a parade led by the Egg Queen with her court of attendant chicks, a Chicken Rodeo and an Egg Queen Ball. By mid-century, Petaluma's predominant industry became dairy farming and remains so today. However, tourism and high-tech industries also share this title.
The Petaluma Adobe is a National Historic Landmark and it is the largest domestic adobe building remaining in the United States. Adobe, an ancient product, is a sun-dried brick made of clay and straw and generally used in hot, dry climates. Between the years 1836 and 1846, the Petaluma Adobe was onstructed by General Mariano G. Vallejo (1807-1890), commandant of the Sonoma pueblo. General Vallejo was the founder of the town of Petaluma and Santa Rosa. Vallejo had a vast
agricultural enterprise where more than 2000 Indians labored.
The Adobe served as his headquarters. Vallejo owned thousands
of cattle and sheep, and several large herds of horses making
him the wealthiest and one of the most politically powerful
men in California by 1845.
Petaluma survived
the devastating 1906 San Francisco earthquake miraculously
unscathed and its Spanish Colonial, Queen Anne, Victorian,
Neo-classical, Gothic-revival, and Italianate architecture
are beautifully preserved. Petaluma has been fortunate and
Petalumans have have worked hard to protect their city's history.
They won their right from the Federal Ninth Circuit Cout of
Appeals to implement an aggressive program of preserving older
homes, commercial buildings and the Historic Riverfront. Petaluma
was the first city which was able to protect its individuality.
Their efforts paid off and in 1995, the Victorian Historic
Downtown earned the recognition as one of the best preserved
Historic Downtown areas and was added to the National Register
Of Historic Places. Today the quaint
riverfront city with Victorian charm is home to more than
600 businesses and 65 historical properties. Annual events
include the Butter & Egg Days Parade, Victorian Holiday
events, Semi-Annual Antique Faires, the Great Petaluma Quilt
Show and the Arts & Garden Festival.
Visitors have the opportunity to combine shopping with history in Petaluma. One can leisurely stroll through the downtown district of graceful Iron Front buildings of the 1800s while dropping in on many of the antique stores, clothing boutiques, gift shops and art galleries which are housed in historic buildings.
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