History

Petaluma Booms

Built in 1923 and officially opened April 22, Hotel Petaluma has welcomed visitors for almost a century.  Hotel Petaluma is the second hotel built on the site where it stands. In the mid-1860s, the small Brooklyn Hotel was the first to claim home to the site. Keiley Tighe, coroner of Sonoma County, had ownership but ended up building a new hotel a block away at Washington and Keller Street. The original hotel fell into disuse and eventually destroyed by a fire in the 1880’s.

By the end of the 19th century, Petaluma had become the largest center for chicken and egg production, due to the development of the incubator, in the United States, with much of its production shipped via the Petaluma River. As the population nearly doubled between 1900-1920, reaching over 6,000 people, demand for transportation to San Francisco and other cities grew. Realizing the river’s transportation potential, Charles Minturn, soon to be known as the “Ferryboat King,” purchased the route and began to operate a ferry service from San Francisco to Petaluma.

His high rates, uncomfortable boats, and overall monopoly on passenger service did not bode well with locals. The McNear family made yet another large investment in the community and partnered in the Petaluma & Santa Rosa Railway. Early guests took the ferry, railway, and a limited few in automobiles, from San Francisco to enjoy the hotel’s accommodations, dance bands, lavish dinners, and the popular Redwood Room.  The building of the hotel was funded by selling shares and local interest to 855 Petalumans who wanted to create a beautiful place to welcome visitors from near and far.

Geo McNear, of McNear’s theater, the Petaluma & Santa Rosa steamer rail, and a large local financier for many projects, was the largest shareholder for the hotel.  The successful hotelier, Henry Barker, was the first to lease the hotel and spared nothing on the building and furnishing of Hotel Petaluma.

To this day, that beauty, grandeur, and history remain intact from the beautiful entranceway to the original pull-door elevator, the first passenger elevator in Petaluma.  Originally the hotel was designed to be a four story building with 96 guest rooms but a 5th floor was added before construction was complete to provide lodging for the hotel employees. The elegant dining hall where formal dinners were held, is still available as a banquet facility for wedding receptions, meetings, and parties for any occasion.

The new ownership is working towards a rebirth of the building to contribute to the growth of Petaluma as a forward thinking community. Once the renovations have been complete, the hotel will again be a welcoming location for visitors from near and afar.

Petaluma’s Historic Downtown

Petaluma’s Historic Downtown was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. Petaluma played an important part in California’s early history, providing game and agricultural products to the burgeoning cities of San Francisco and Oakland during the Gold Rush years. At one time, Petaluma was the ninth largest municipality in the state with the river having the distinction of being the third busiest in the State of California. While river commerce has dwindled since construction of Highway 101, the river provides a pleasant setting for shops, restaurants, a yacht club and a snug harbor for boaters from all over the Bay Area. As one of the few historic cities in Northern California spared the ravages of the 1906 earthquake, Petaluma’s Victorian homes and historic riverfront buildings are rare example of what citizens saw at the turn of the century. The years have been kind to Petaluma’s history, and its citizens have worked hard to preserve as much of it as possible.

Visitors can stroll along the river and wander through the downtown district of graceful 1800′s Iron Front buildings. Shop at numerous antique stores and art galleries, a rare seed bank and a wide variety of retail shops. Relax and enjoy an excellent meal at one of many fine restaurants and cafes and be greeted by friendly people who add to the hometown experience.