Locality Research and Preservation

Celebrate Jewish American history month by visiting the Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco. The building itself was designed by Daniel Libeskind and is intended to be dynamic and inspiring to facilitate the mission of making the Jewish experience inspiring and relevant for the 21st century. In celebration of Rube Goldberg, a well-known Jewish American famous for his complex machines for simple tasks, The CJM is having a drop in workshop in creating a few of his machines. Don't miss out! For more information find the Contemporary Jewish Museum on our website: http://archlocality.org/resources.html

If you’re looking for an alternative way to celebrate the Easter weekend, the custom exhibit Crafting a Rebellion opens March 30 at the California Automobile Museum in Sacramento (sneak peak on March 29). From the 1940s to the 1960s Harry Westergard, Dick Bertolucci, and Sam Barris were doing extraordinary work in Sacramento. The museum will have interactive exhibits, as well as demonstrations during the exhibit’s run, which ends Labor Day. Lookup California Automobile Museum on our website for visiting information: http://archlocality.org/resources.html

William Meek was one of the first pioneers to settle and begin farming land in Alameda County. Following the discovery of gold in California, Meek profited from importing fruit. In 1859, Meek relocated to what is now Alameda County, and ten years later he began construction on what is now called the Meek Mansion. The current Cherryland neighborhood sits on 3,000 acres of Meek’s land. On March 24th, 10:00am-2:00pm, Meek Mansion will be open to the public for it’s quarterly Open House. Admission is free, don’t miss out. For more information, check out Meek Mansion on our page of resources: http://archlocality.org/resources.html

Curious about some local celebrities? After having served on the staff of future President Zachary Taylor during the Mexican-American War, Joseph Hooker settled in Sonoma County during the early days of California statehood. He later made his way back east to fight in the American Civil War, but some of his friends and enemies influenced how he commanded his soldiers as a Major General. Dr. Peter Meyerhof, the historian at the Sonoma League for Historic Preservation, will be giving a lecture on this ambitious man at Mission San Francisco Solano on March 15, at 7:00pm. More information, including admission, can be found at http://www.sonomaparks.org/pub/cal_ev/324

Gung Hay Fat Choy! 2018 is the Year of the Dog and San Francisco’s Chinatown is the home of the largest Chinese New Year festival and parade outside of Mainland China. By 1849, over 50,000 people (including many Chinese) immigrated to San Francisco to seek their fortune in the Gold Rush, work on the railroads, or just to improve their quality of life. Started in the 1860s as a way to showcase and share their culture using the American parade tradition, the parade and festival outgrew Grant St in Chinatown by the 1970s. The modern parade is televised annually to over 3 million viewers across the United States, Canada, and Asia. This year the parade happens on February 24. If you wish to purchase tickets for reserved bleacher seats or learn more about the Chinese New Year Festival and Parade visit: http://www.chineseparade.com/

Are you looking for a way to enjoy some live music in the Bay Area? Consider checking out Friday Night @ the Oakland Museum of California! On Friday, February 16th, Haji Basim is the featured performer for their Acoustic Space Series Celebration of Black History Month. Not only will you enjoy music in the galleries, you can also partake in the Off the Grid food trucks and catch the final weeks of the Question Bridge: Black Males exhibit in the Gallery of California Art. More details can be found at: http://museumca.org/2018/acoustic-space-series-haji-basim

Buffalo Soldiers was the nickname given to the African American regiments of the United States Army by Native Americans during the American Civil War and to the first peacetime all-African American regiments by Congress. But did you know that the Buffalo Soldiers were briefly park rangers in California National Parks before the National Park Service was formed? In celebration of Black History Month learn about the Buffalo Soldiers’ contributions to the United States during a time of overt racism and segregation. Join the San Francisco Presidio on a walking tour of the Main Post February 4th, 10:30-12. For full information visit: https://www.presidio.gov//buffalo-soldiers-gone-but-not-fo

During World War II the San Francisco Presidio - the Army's Western Defense Command - played a pivotal role in the unjust incarceration of 120,000 Japanese Americans, purportedly in the name of national security. Now through March there is a special exhibition at the Presidio Officers' Club that investigates the choices - personal and political - that led to this dark chapter in US history, and to reflects on what we have learned that helps us to address present-day issues of mass incarceration, immigration reform, and racial profiling. Open Tues-Sun, 10am to 5pm. For more information on this exhibition and other Bay Area events visit: http://archlocality.org/events.html

Looking for a rainy day spot for some silly fun? Check out San Francisco's fabulous antique arcade museum at Fisherman's Wharf Pier 45: Musee Mecanique. One of the world's largest privately owned collections of mechanically operated musical instruments and antique arcade machines. Bring some coins and take a journey from turn of the century hand cranked music boxes to modern video arcade games. This is a trip down memory lane and a whole lot of fun to be had! For visiting information and for other indoor and outdoor ways to explore the greater Bay Area visit: http://archlocality.org/resources.html

The Walt Disney Museum in San Francisco’s Presidio, with interactive and audio/visual exhibits, is a joy for all ages! A down on his luck Disney arrived in Hollywood from Missouri in 1923 with only $40 in his pocket. Determined not to give up, he started sketching an idea that would later become the beloved Mickey Mouse. The museum tracks the development of animated film, alongside historic events and the life of Walt Disney. Open 10am6pm daily, except Tuesdays when the museum is closed. Last entry is 4:45pm. For more information visit: https://waltdisney.org/visit

The Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Marin County Civic Center is a national and state designated historic landmark. It is one of only three public Wright sites in California (including the Hanna House, Stanford University, and the Hollyhock House, Los Angeles. 90-minute docent-led architectural tours of the Marin Civic Center are available every Wed and Fri at 10:30am. Meet at the 2nd floor Café, Room 233. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for seniors and students. No reservation required. For more information visit: https://www.marincounty.org/depts/cu/tours

If you have yet to visit the Lick Observatory on Mt. Hamilton it is well-worth the drive! View exhibits in the main Observatory building, built in 1888, see the Great Lick Refractor in the 36-inch telescope dome with a short informal talk about Lick history, and take a short walk to the Shane Dome to view the 120-inch Reflector from the Visitors’ Gallery. Displays explain the Shane reflector, one of the major telescopes used to discover extrasolar planets. Then enjoy the spectacular view of the Santa Clara Valley from 4,209 feet. Admission is free. *Night visits are only available June-Sept and require tickets. Check the official Lick Observatory website for opening hours: http://www.ucolick.org/main/visit/info.html

Take the first Saturday of 2018 (January 6th) to explore the Dublin Heritage Park and Museums’ "Hands-on History" day. Not only can you learn about Dublin’s heritage but you can participate in it too! Make butter or ice cream, pan for gold, play old-fashioned games, help farm the new Farm Yard, or take a guided tour. Events are suitable for all ages, and perfect for families with small children. Meet at Bill's Studio (behind the park restrooms), at 1:003:00. Admission is free! For more information visit: http://dublinca.gov/758/Programs-Events

Celebrate Jewish American history month by visiting the Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco. The building itself was designed by Daniel Libeskind and is intended to be dynamic and inspiring to facilitate the mission of making the Jewish experience inspiring and relevant for the 21st century. In celebration of Rube Goldberg, a well-known Jewish American famous for his complex machines for simple tasks, The CJM is having a drop in workshop in creating a few of his machines. Don't miss out! For more information find the Contemporary Jewish Museum on our website: http://archlocality.org/resources.html

If you’re looking for an alternative way to celebrate the Easter weekend, the custom exhibit Crafting a Rebellion opens March 30 at the California Automobile Museum in Sacramento (sneak peak on March 29). From the 1940s to the 1960s Harry Westergard, Dick Bertolucci, and Sam Barris were doing extraordinary work in Sacramento. The museum will have interactive exhibits, as well as demonstrations during the exhibit’s run, which ends Labor Day. Lookup California Automobile Museum on our website for visiting information: http://archlocality.org/resources.html

William Meek was one of the first pioneers to settle and begin farming land in Alameda County. Following the discovery of gold in California, Meek profited from importing fruit. In 1859, Meek relocated to what is now Alameda County, and ten years later he began construction on what is now called the Meek Mansion. The current Cherryland neighborhood sits on 3,000 acres of Meek’s land. On March 24th, 10:00am-2:00pm, Meek Mansion will be open to the public for it’s quarterly Open House. Admission is free, don’t miss out. For more information, check out Meek Mansion on our page of resources: http://archlocality.org/resources.html

Curious about some local celebrities? After having served on the staff of future President Zachary Taylor during the Mexican-American War, Joseph Hooker settled in Sonoma County during the early days of California statehood. He later made his way back east to fight in the American Civil War, but some of his friends and enemies influenced how he commanded his soldiers as a Major General. Dr. Peter Meyerhof, the historian at the Sonoma League for Historic Preservation, will be giving a lecture on this ambitious man at Mission San Francisco Solano on March 15, at 7:00pm. More information, including admission, can be found at http://www.sonomaparks.org/pub/cal_ev/324

Gung Hay Fat Choy! 2018 is the Year of the Dog and San Francisco’s Chinatown is the home of the largest Chinese New Year festival and parade outside of Mainland China. By 1849, over 50,000 people (including many Chinese) immigrated to San Francisco to seek their fortune in the Gold Rush, work on the railroads, or just to improve their quality of life. Started in the 1860s as a way to showcase and share their culture using the American parade tradition, the parade and festival outgrew Grant St in Chinatown by the 1970s. The modern parade is televised annually to over 3 million viewers across the United States, Canada, and Asia. This year the parade happens on February 24. If you wish to purchase tickets for reserved bleacher seats or learn more about the Chinese New Year Festival and Parade visit: http://www.chineseparade.com/

Are you looking for a way to enjoy some live music in the Bay Area? Consider checking out Friday Night @ the Oakland Museum of California! On Friday, February 16th, Haji Basim is the featured performer for their Acoustic Space Series Celebration of Black History Month. Not only will you enjoy music in the galleries, you can also partake in the Off the Grid food trucks and catch the final weeks of the Question Bridge: Black Males exhibit in the Gallery of California Art. More details can be found at: http://museumca.org/2018/acoustic-space-series-haji-basim

Buffalo Soldiers was the nickname given to the African American regiments of the United States Army by Native Americans during the American Civil War and to the first peacetime all-African American regiments by Congress. But did you know that the Buffalo Soldiers were briefly park rangers in California National Parks before the National Park Service was formed? In celebration of Black History Month learn about the Buffalo Soldiers’ contributions to the United States during a time of overt racism and segregation. Join the San Francisco Presidio on a walking tour of the Main Post February 4th, 10:30-12. For full information visit: https://www.presidio.gov//buffalo-soldiers-gone-but-not-fo

During World War II the San Francisco Presidio - the Army's Western Defense Command - played a pivotal role in the unjust incarceration of 120,000 Japanese Americans, purportedly in the name of national security. Now through March there is a special exhibition at the Presidio Officers' Club that investigates the choices - personal and political - that led to this dark chapter in US history, and to reflects on what we have learned that helps us to address present-day issues of mass incarceration, immigration reform, and racial profiling. Open Tues-Sun, 10am to 5pm. For more information on this exhibition and other Bay Area events visit: http://archlocality.org/events.html

Looking for a rainy day spot for some silly fun? Check out San Francisco's fabulous antique arcade museum at Fisherman's Wharf Pier 45: Musee Mecanique. One of the world's largest privately owned collections of mechanically operated musical instruments and antique arcade machines. Bring some coins and take a journey from turn of the century hand cranked music boxes to modern video arcade games. This is a trip down memory lane and a whole lot of fun to be had! For visiting information and for other indoor and outdoor ways to explore the greater Bay Area visit: http://archlocality.org/resources.html

The Walt Disney Museum in San Francisco’s Presidio, with interactive and audio/visual exhibits, is a joy for all ages! A down on his luck Disney arrived in Hollywood from Missouri in 1923 with only $40 in his pocket. Determined not to give up, he started sketching an idea that would later become the beloved Mickey Mouse. The museum tracks the development of animated film, alongside historic events and the life of Walt Disney. Open 10am6pm daily, except Tuesdays when the museum is closed. Last entry is 4:45pm. For more information visit: https://waltdisney.org/visit

The Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Marin County Civic Center is a national and state designated historic landmark. It is one of only three public Wright sites in California (including the Hanna House, Stanford University, and the Hollyhock House, Los Angeles. 90-minute docent-led architectural tours of the Marin Civic Center are available every Wed and Fri at 10:30am. Meet at the 2nd floor Café, Room 233. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for seniors and students. No reservation required. For more information visit: https://www.marincounty.org/depts/cu/tours

If you have yet to visit the Lick Observatory on Mt. Hamilton it is well-worth the drive! View exhibits in the main Observatory building, built in 1888, see the Great Lick Refractor in the 36-inch telescope dome with a short informal talk about Lick history, and take a short walk to the Shane Dome to view the 120-inch Reflector from the Visitors’ Gallery. Displays explain the Shane reflector, one of the major telescopes used to discover extrasolar planets. Then enjoy the spectacular view of the Santa Clara Valley from 4,209 feet. Admission is free. *Night visits are only available June-Sept and require tickets. Check the official Lick Observatory website for opening hours: http://www.ucolick.org/main/visit/info.html

Take the first Saturday of 2018 (January 6th) to explore the Dublin Heritage Park and Museums’ "Hands-on History" day. Not only can you learn about Dublin’s heritage but you can participate in it too! Make butter or ice cream, pan for gold, play old-fashioned games, help farm the new Farm Yard, or take a guided tour. Events are suitable for all ages, and perfect for families with small children. Meet at Bill's Studio (behind the park restrooms), at 1:003:00. Admission is free! For more information visit: http://dublinca.gov/758/Programs-Events