Tomales Regional History Center

Tomales Regional History Center The Tomales History Center is a small northern California history museum. Our region covers western Marin and southwestern Sonoma Counties.

🎨✨ TONIGHT AT 6:00 PM! ✨🎨​Looking for inspiring Friday night plans? Come support some incredibly talented local voices a...
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! 👋❤️

🎉 WE HAVE A WINNER! 🎉​We are thrilled to announce that the winner of our "Your History, Your Voice" community survey dra...
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! 🏛️❤️

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

Wow—thank you, Tomales and West Marin for having our back! 📣❤️We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has already sha...
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

🎨 Making Waves: Ripples of Our Lives Student Art Show!Experience the creativity of the next generation at the Tomales Re...
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.



The Life of a Sign: A century apart 🚂🛤️History has a way of hiding in plain sight.While digging in the archives and view...
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




📚✨ CALLING ALL BOOKWORMS, ART LOVERS, AND HISTORY BUFFS! ✨📚​Looking for some weekend inspiration, a gorgeous new coffee ...
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.

🎨 Making Waves: Ripples of Our Lives Student Art Show!Experience the creativity of the next generation at the Tomales Re...
05/14/2026

🎨 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. Showcased in the “Stage Gallery” the student work includes painting, drawing, and photography.

🗓️ Join us for the Opening Reception on Friday, May 29, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

💌 The exhibition will remain on view through September 7, 2026.

📍Tomales Regional History Center
26701 Hwy 1, Tomales, CA, 94971

Step in and look back as these young artists explore their community and history through their unique creative lens.


Cheers to an incredible afternoon! 🥂​A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us for "Every Last Drop: Savoring Plac...
05/04/2026

Cheers to an incredible afternoon! 🥂
​A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us for "Every Last Drop: Savoring Place in the Local Craft Beverage Landscape." Seeing our community reminded us why "moments of togetherness" are the heartbeat of the Tomales Regional History Center.

​We are a small center with big dreams, and today felt like a beautiful step toward our future. A special shout-out to:
👉🏼​ Our Moderator: The wonderful Carin Jacobs, for leading such an insightful exploration of our regional sense of place.
👉🏼​ Our Speakers: Thank you for sharing your craft and helping us facilitate experiences that connect our local flora to our history.
👉🏼​ Our Volunteers: A huge thank you to the Board, our passionate Docents, and the USCG Training Center Petaluma Coastie volunteers. We simply couldn’t do this without your service.

​Thank you for helping us keep the history of West Marin and Sonoma County vibrant and alive. Here’s to many more gatherings!

Buzzing with questions about what makes our local flavors so unique? 🐝✨Join us TODAY at 2:00 PM! We’re hosting a lively ...
05/03/2026

Buzzing with questions about what makes our local flavors so unique? 🐝✨

Join us TODAY at 2:00 PM!

We’re hosting a lively conversation on the connection between place and our regional craft beverages. Whether you're a connoisseur or just curious about the craft, come learn how our local landscape ends up in your glass.

📅 When: Today, Sunday, May 3
🕑 Time: 2:00 PM
📍 Where: TRHC

Don't miss out on the buzz—see you there! 🍻🍷🍯

Address

26701 Highway 1
Tomales, CA
94971

Opening Hours

Saturday 1pm - 4pm
Sunday 1pm - 4pm

Telephone

(707) 878-9443

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