Petaluma Adobe SHP
In the 19th century, the largest ranch in the valley was Rancho de Petaluma, owned by General Vallejo. On the rancho, cattle were raised for their hides and tallow, sheep for their wool, and other crops for trade.
Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park is situated on a hilltop, overlooking acres of open land, near to Adobe Creek, shut your eyes and it's easy to imagine life on the Mexican rancho.
Kids can explore the two story adobe brick house (80 percent of the adobe bricks are original) and grounds of this historic rancho.
The house was not just a home to the Vallejo family and ranch workers, there were large storerooms and workshops for rendering tallow from cowhides, making candles, dying wool, weaving blankets, blacksmithing and carpentry.
Downstairs, check out weaving room with large looms, storeroom with stacks of cowhides and other examples of saddles and leather working, and granary where sacks of corn, barley and wheat were stored and a grinding mill. In the courtyard beehive ovens were used for cooking, and large iron pots for other crafts.
Upstairs are the dining room (with a big long dining table, there were always a lot of people to feed), parlor and large family bedroom for the Vallejo family, also servants and artisan's quarters.
Bring your lunch, there are picnic tables in the shade, next to the parking lot.
Petaluma Adobe is open daily, 10am - 5pm.
Living History Day - Every spring, step back in time to 1840, with hands-on activities for kids, music, games, dancing.
Read our blog post:
Petaluma Adobe: Rancho Living History Day
