Novato History Museum

05/22/2026

What did Jacob Primer Leese have to do with Novato?

The nearly three leagues, (8,870 acres), that was to become Rancho Novato in 1839 had been the home to the Miwoks for thousands of years.

The land was awarded to Fernando Feliz, a young soldier from Los Angeles, as a Mexican Land Grant. Feliz later received another land grant, Rancho Sanel, in Mendocino County.
In 1844, Feliz sold the Novato Rancho to Jacob P. Leese, so the story goes, for a “herd of cattle”.

Jacob was a Yankee trader born in St. Clarisville, Ohio in 1809. He later became the brother-in-law to General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo. Jacob sailed for six days on the Mexican brig Arachuchu from Los Angeles to Yerba Buena 1835. He eventually met General Vallejo’s sister, asked for her hand, and was welcomed into the prominent Mexican family.

Their daughter, Rosalie was born in Yerba Buena in April of 1838. Leese did not keep the Novato Rancho for long. In 1846 he sold the property to Captain Bezer Simmons, a former whaling vessel commander from Vermont.

The Novato Historical Guild
Hamilton Field History Museum

05/09/2026

Who built the still standing Novato Bank building?

Frank J Silva.

Frank came to the US from the Azores at age 17 in 1882. He first settled in the Sierras where he worked as a Sheepherder. He then moved to Marin to work as a dairyman on Miller’s Ranch in Marinwood.

Frank met his future wife, Rosa Pacheco, at a Portuguese Chamarita Festival in San Rafael. Rosa had also immigrated from the Azores at age 17. They were married in 1901.
Five years later, Frank bought a general store and salon at 824 Grant Ave. in Novato. They lived in the building in a 2 bed, 1 bath living quarters in the back.

In 1913, Frank Silva built the Novato Bank at 826 Grant Ave.

The Novato Historical Guild
Hamilton Field History Museum

04/24/2026

On Feb 12, 1850, Joseph, Maria, Andrew and John Sweetser set sail on the steamer Columbus from New York City. They arrived in San Francisco 114 days later on June 6, 1850. They left their home in Maine for the promise of a good living in the new State of California. Before purchasing the Novato Rancho with fellow New Englander, Francis DeLong in 1857, Joseph opened a harness shop in San Francisco. Later he tried his hand at farming in Alameda County. Sweetser and DeLong built a thriving fruit and dairy business on the Rancho over the next two decades. By 1879, Joseph Sweetser decided to sell his interest in Rancho Novato to DeLong. He retained acreage west of Redwood Blvd for his sons and then moved to Florida to grow oranges. He died four years later, at the age of 72 due to blood poisoning. His remains were returned to Novato for burial at the Novato Cemetary. The cemetery for which he and DeLong had donated land many, many years prior.

The Novato Historical Guild
Hamilton Field History Museum
Pioneer Park Cemetery Tour

04/17/2026

Third Grade Tours. Twenty-two classes will time travel with a tour of the Novato History Museum and Old Town Novato guided by volunteer docents.

04/14/2026

Please attend this speaking event.

⏰ Purchase Tickets Now!
🎙️ Gil Rud - A Blue Angel’s Journey
🗓️ April 23, 7pm
🎟️ $15 Student | $30 General Admission
✈️ https://www.novatospeakerseries.com
🗺️ Bill and Adele Jonas Center

04/11/2026

Frederick S Hamilton brought his family to Novato from Kansas in the early 1900s. His brother, James, lived in Petaluma. The two brothers hatched a plan. They bought three lots on Grant and Sherman, built a store and a house and went into business. The house still stands at 820 Sherman. The store is long gone. Fred Hamilton was appointed postmaster in Dec 1914, at that time he moved the Novato post office into the grocery store.
After Fred sold his interests and moved to San Rafael, the store became Novato's first Community House in 1919. In 1922, it was sold to A.H. Anderson for $3500. The original building was eventually razed in 1945.

The Novato Historical Guild
Hamilton Field History Museum

03/27/2026

Meet Marie and Capt Leon Hiribarren. Capt Leon piloted the 23 ton schooner, The California, between Novato Creek and San Francisco until 1879 when the new railroad cut into his business.

They later settled in Novato and ran the Novato House hotel, saloon and livery stable at Grant and Scott. In 1906 the couple built their home at 904 Railroad Avenue.

The Novato Historical Guild
Hamilton Field History Museum

03/15/2026

Pioneer Park Cemetery Tours!
Join us for a fascinating journey through history at Pioneer Park
Cemetery. This in-person event is a unique opportunity to connect with the past and discover the rich heritage of our city. Please note the tour consists of some stairs an narrow pathways. A $10 donation would be greatly appreciated, payable at event.
Tour dates: April 11, May 9, June 13, July 18, August 15, and September 19.
Location: Pioneer Park Cemetery, 1007 Simmons Lane
To register visit the Novato Historical website https://www.novatohistory.org/events

Note: In the event of rain, tour will be canceled.