Tomales Regional History Center

06/09/2026

Unlocking Hidden Maritime History! ⚓️

Ever heard of a "doghole port"? Long before modern highways, the rugged cliffs of the North Coast were a bustling marine highway. Sailors used to joke that these tiny, exposed landings were so small, only a dog could turn around in them!

Join us at the Tomales Regional History Center for a fascinating, free guest lecture by renowned maritime archaeologist Denise Jaffke, "Small Ports and Working Shores of the North Coast."

Discover the underwater secrets, shipwrecks, and rugged heritage right off our local shores—from Fort Ross to West Marin.

🗓 When: Sunday, July 19, 2026 | 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
📍 Where: Tomales Regional History Center (26701 Highway One, Tomales, CA)
🎟 Admission: FREE!

Bring a friend and dive into local history with us! Click the link in our bio for more details. 🌊✨

TRHC Sunday Lecture Series is curated by Carin Jacobs,

06/01/2026

History Right Underfoot: The Mark of Louis Ricci ('37) 👣✨

If you’ve ever stood on our auditorium stage at the Tomales Regional History Center, you might have noticed a small piece of history permanently etched into the wood: the initials "LR '37."

For years, it was just a quiet piece of historical graffiti—until TRHC board member Marisa Kitson pointed them out. She shared that those initials belong to her uncle, who finally "fessed up" to the teenage vandalism decades later during the History Center’s renovation in the 1990s!

Those initials belong to Louis "Louie" Ricci, a member of the Tomales High School Class of 1937. We flipped through the 1937 Tide yearbook to see what Louie was up to when he left his mark. Spoiler alert: He was always at the center of the action. 🌟

A natural leader and athlete, Louie was President of the F.F.A. and the starting catcher for the baseball team. He also showcased his talents on this very stage, starring in the senior play, Slightly Delirious.

What happened to Louie after 1937? 🚜🎙️
That poise and agricultural leadership defined the rest of his life. Born in 1917, Louie grew up on dairies in Bodega Bay. After graduation, he became a legendary figure in regional agriculture, running the Santa Rosa Livestock Auction yard for 36 years alongside his wife, Claudia.

Even more famously, Louie was an incredible auctioneer. He spent over 50 years volunteering his rapid-fire chant at the Sonoma County Fair, helping local 4-H and FFA youth sell their livestock. Before passing away in 2014 at age 97, he was honored with a Lifetime Contribution to Sonoma County Agriculture award.

The next time you visit the History Center, look down at the stage floor. You're standing right where a young Louie Ricci rehearsed his lines, led meetings, and left a permanent (confessed!) mark on Tomales history.

📸 image captions:
​Louie's historical graffiti etched into the stage.

​1937 "Tide" THS yearbook cover

​Louie’s senior portrait, 1937

​Louie's senior class description

​THS class play roster and Drama class photo, 1937

​Louie's class will and catcher team photo, 1937

​Louie's legit signature in the 1937 yearbook

05/30/2026

🎨✨ TONIGHT AT 6:00 PM! ✨🎨
​Looking for inspiring Friday night plans? Come support some incredibly talented local voices at the opening reception for "Making Waves: Ripples of Our Lives," the Tomales High School Student Art Show!

​Students have poured their hearts and endless creativity into these pieces. There is nothing quite like seeing the pride on a young artist's face when they see their work on display—let’s fill the room and show them how much this community believes in them!

​When: Tonight at 6:00 PM | May 29, 2026
​Where: Tomales Regional History Center
​Bring your friends and family. We can't wait to celebrate these wonderful student creators with you! 👋❤️

05/29/2026

🎉 WE HAVE A WINNER! 🎉
​We are thrilled to announce that the winner of our "Your History, Your Voice" community survey drawing is Karen Jope!

​Karen’s name was drawn from a literal hat, and she is now the proud owner of a high-quality copy of the historic 1900 Tomales panorama print. 📸✨

​When we reached out to Karen, she shared a wonderful reminder of why preserving our local history matters so much. Her family’s roots in Tomales run deep: her grandparents, Cleve and Babs Thompson, once lived in the historic Tomales hotel and later on Main Street, and her grandfather worked at the local cheese factory.

​Today, Karen’s mother, Patsy Thompson Vander Leun (who attended school right here in Tomales), is a dedicated supporter of the History Center and loves reading The Bulletin from home. Karen is having the panorama mailed so she can surprise her mom with this beautiful piece of their family's history!

​📊 What's Next for the Survey Findings?
We want to give a massive thank you to everyone who took the time to share their feedback. Your voices are invaluable as we shape the future of the Tomales Regional History Center!
​We are busy compiling your responses, and we will be sharing the findings of the "Your History, Your Voice" survey in our upcoming summer Bulletin.

​🗞️ Don't miss it! If you are not yet a member of TRHC and want to receive the summer Bulletin, you can sign up online right now on our website at https://www.tomaleshistory.com/step-up/become-a-member

​Join us in congratulating Karen, and thank you all for being such a vital part of our community! 🏛️❤️

05/27/2026

Hello! Take our short flash survey by 6pm tonight (May 27) for a chance to be entered into our giveaway for a copy of the 1900 Panorama of Tomales!

Wow—thank you, Tomales and West Marin for having our back! 📣❤️

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has already shared their thoughts, stories, and insights through our 2026 Your History, Your Voice Survey. Your input is helping us build a vibrant blueprint for the future of the Tomales Regional History Center!

If you missed the long-form survey but still want to make your voice count, you're in luck. To wrap things up, we’ve launched a quick-hitting, 2-minute Flash Survey! ⏳👇

👉 Take the Flash Survey here: https://tinyurl.com/TRHC-ShortSurvey26

🎁 OWN A PIECE OF HISTORY! 🖼️🚂
To say a huge thank you for your time, everyone who completes the flash survey can choose to be entered into a drawing to win a beautiful, mounted print of the 1900 Tomales Panorama.

⏰ Don't wait! The Flash Survey closes TOMORROW Wednesday May 26 at 6:00 PM.

Take the survey: https://tinyurl.com/TRHC-ShortSurvey26

📸 Tomales Regional History Center Archives. Ella Jorgensen, photographer

05/26/2026

Wow—thank you, Tomales and West Marin for having our back! 📣❤️

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has already shared their thoughts, stories, and insights through our 2026 Your History, Your Voice Survey. Your input is helping us build a vibrant blueprint for the future of the Tomales Regional History Center!

If you missed the long-form survey but still want to make your voice count, you're in luck. To wrap things up, we’ve launched a quick-hitting, 2-minute Flash Survey! ⏳👇

👉 Take the Flash Survey here: https://tinyurl.com/TRHC-ShortSurvey26

🎁 OWN A PIECE OF HISTORY! 🖼️🚂
To say a huge thank you for your time, everyone who completes the flash survey can choose to be entered into a drawing to win a beautiful, mounted print of the 1900 Tomales Panorama.

⏰ Don't wait! The Flash Survey closes TOMORROW Wednesday May 26 at 6:00 PM.

Take the survey: https://tinyurl.com/TRHC-ShortSurvey26

📸 Tomales Regional History Center Archives. Ella Jorgensen, photographer

05/22/2026

🎨 Making Waves: Ripples of Our Lives Student Art Show!

Experience the creativity of the next generation at the Tomales Regional History Center. This upcoming exhibition, "Making Waves: Ripples of Our Lives," showcases the diverse perspectives and original artwork of Tomales High School art students.

Displayed in the 'Stage Gallery,' the student work includes painting, drawing, and photography, exploring community and place through a unique creative lens.

👋🏼Join Us for the Opening Reception 🎉
🗓️ When: Friday, May 29, 2026
⏰ Time: 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
📍Location: Tomales Regional History Center
26701 Hwy 1, Tomales, CA, 94971

🖼️ The exhibition will remain on view through September 7, 2026 and can be viewed Weekends 1pm to 4pm!

Special Thanks: We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the awesome Ginny Geoghegan, THS Visual Arts Teacher, and Jeff Davis of the Marin Photography Club for their incredible support in making this show a reality.

05/20/2026

The Life of a Sign: A century apart 🚂🛤️

History has a way of hiding in plain sight.
While digging in the archives and viewing the wonderful photography of Ella Jorgensen, we did a double-take. In this historic snapshot, two women pose in front of the Tomales train station, but it’s the sign above their heads that caught our eye.

If it looks familiar, that’s because it’s the very same one currently hanging in our gallery!

The Details:
The Vintage Shot: Taken by Ella Jorgensen, this photo captures the North Pacific Coast Railroad era. Notice the crisp white paint and the original station setting.

The Artifact Today: Now weathered by decades of coastal air, the sign serves as a centerpiece in our current display on the Narrow Gauge Railroad, alongside a "Hamlet" station sign.

It is rare to be able to place an artifact so precisely in its original context. Seeing it through Ella’s lens reminds us that these objects were the backdrop to daily life in our community over a century ago.

Visit us this weekend to see the sign in person!

📍 Tomales Regional History Center
26701 Highway One
Tomales, CA 94971

🕒 Open Weekends from 1pm to 4pm | Free Admission

05/16/2026

📚✨ CALLING ALL BOOKWORMS, ART LOVERS, AND HISTORY BUFFS! ✨📚

​Looking for some weekend inspiration, a gorgeous new coffee table addition, or a deep dive into classic design? The Tomales Regional History Center is hosting an Epic Art & Architecture Book Sale, and you won't want to miss it!

​We have stacked our shelves with an incredible selection of books on stunning architecture, master artists, local history, and design inspiration. The best part?
​Each book is just a $2 donation! 😲
​Yes, you read that right. For less than the price of a morning coffee, you can take home a classic masterpiece of a book.

🫰🏼​How your $2 helps:
Every single dollar raised from this sale goes directly back into the TRHC. Your donations help us:
😎 ​Preserve local history and safeguard our unique regional stories.
🎇​Fund community events and vibrant upcoming exhibitions.
🌞​Keep our doors open and accessible to everyone who wants to explore our shared heritage.

​It’s the ultimate win-win: you get to upgrade your home library with some incredible finds, and you get to support the preservation of our community's history!

​📍Where: Tomales Regional History Center
26701 Highway One
Tomales, CA 94971

🗓️ When: Weekends 1pm to 4pm until we sell out!

​Come browse, chat with us, and hunt for some literary treasure. See you there!

​
📸 1963 Tomales High School Tide Yearbook
Charlene Cerini, Ray Borello, Judi Cherrigan, Carol Garzoli, Jack Matthews, Bill Dilena, Eileen Lemos.