Discover Petaluma, a Quaint Riverfront City with Victorian Charm
Picturesque Petaluma offers several walking tours that provide visitors an up-close-and-personal look at its many historic delights. These tours will take you past scores of well-maintained Victorian homes, a thriving downtown district (which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995) and hundreds of magnificent trees of various species. Read on to discover some hidden and not-so-hidden aspects of this charming city.
A self-guided Walking Tour of Historic Downtown Petaluma is a great way to learn about the city’s fascinating history. One of California’s oldest and most attractive cities, Petaluma’s downtown area is rich with ornate architectural pleasures, including several iron front buildings. In the 1880s, it was erroneously believed that a cast-iron front on a building would make it fireproof. Downtown Petaluma has several iron-front buildings that are regarded as some of the finest examples of this type in the United States. On this self-guided walking tour, you’ll see these beautiful buildings as well as many others built during the late 1800s.
If you want to fully experience the historic downtown district, guided tours led by costumed docents are offered June through October on most Saturdays and on the first and third Sunday (no tours are held on days of major downtown events). A fun way for all ages to learn about Petaluma’s humble beginnings, the affordable $5 tours depart at 10:30 a.m. from the Historical Library and Museum at 20 Fourth Street. Reservations are required: phone 778-4398.
Experience the classic beauty of Petaluma’s Victorian Homes with a self-guided Walking Tour of 16 well-kept houses, plus two churches and an office. You’ll stroll at your own pace through an eclectic six-block neighborhood near the historic downtown district, where you can see a variety of styles, including Gothic Revival, Colonial Revival, Queen Anne, Spanish Colonial and Greek Revival.
If you appreciate the natural beauty of a pretty tree, be sure to take the self-guided Walking Tour of the Trees. You’ll see more than fifty species of spectacular trees, including Cedar, Dutch Elm, Date Palm, English Yew, Locust, Maple, and a large variety of oak species. Many of these trees are considered exceptional specimens and Heritage Trees, which are registered with the city of Petaluma and receive special protection. A notable part of this tour is the five-acre Oak Hill Park. In addition to 20 species of trees, Oak Hill Park has a wonderful Cretan Labyrinth. A stone path landscaped with drought-tolerant plants spirals into the center of the round labyrinth, which many people use as a walking meditation tool.
Free maps for the self-guided walking tours are available from the Petaluma Visitor Center, located in the Historic Depot Building at the Northeast corner of E. Washington Street and Lakeville Street.
These are just a few of the many things that make a visit to Petaluma memorable and enjoyable. Now that you know a little bit about the beautiful sights the city offers, I hope you will plan a trip real soon!
