Valley Chats

Join us for a series of informal presentations and conversations with valley locals. Come gather with us in the Rose Room on the museum grounds on the following date. Admission is free. Drinks and snacks provided.

  • Sunday, September 15 2:00pm: Join us for another Valley Chat as Richard McAbee whose great grandfather, John Westley McAbee first settled in Yorkville and eventually purchased the town of Boonville in 1871(store, saloon, hotel and blacksmith shop) shares stories about the McAbee family’s journey across the plains and their many years of living in Anderson Valley.

    Chat Highlights:

    • Stories & Insights: Hear stories and historical insights uncovered through Richard’s study and recording of the family history.

    • Reminisce: Experience life in Anderson Valley during the late 1800’s and through the  1900’s. Drinks and Refreshments provided

“Mac wanted to install me in a comfortable house in Petaluma, the nearest town [to Two Rock, where they first settled] until he could go to Mendocino and make it comfortable for me.  But I preferred to go with him and we did so in 1859.  We started north into a wilderness, sometimes finding a trail of a road and sometimes no road at all, and at the end of sixty miles or so, we settled and made our home for good in the new country”. (Susan Manerva McAbee)

Museum 2024 Membership Gathering (A special Thanks to The Coyote Cowboys. This will go down as one of our most memorable events - Great food, great music and great storytelling about their Anderson Valley history by Dean.)

The AVHS board will be hosting an afternoon of music and history at the Little Red Schoolhouse Museum on Sunday, JULY 14, 2024 2:00 to 4:00 pm. Bring your toe tapping boots (or dancing shoes) as The Coyote Cowboys will be serenading us with their wonderful music AND in the spirit of Anderson Valley history, they will be sharing how their long time Anderson Valley music playing began and some of the highlights of their many years of valley entertainment.

Our annual gathering is our chance to honor and thank our members for their support and an effort to seek new interest and membership in the museum.  So, tell your friends and family they are invited too and help us spread the word on this special gathering.

All buildings on the museum grounds will be open for your wandering pleasure.

Holiday Fun

  • Sunday November 24th, 2024 1-4p: Welcome the Holiday Season with Candle Making festivities. Bring your family and create a festive candle for your holidays. Cookies and Cider will add to the fun on this winter afternoon.

Board Meetings

The Anderson Valley Historical Society Board meets on Thursday mornings at 9:30, every two months. AVHS members and interested guests are welcome to attend. For specific dates, please contact Sheri Hansen, at (707) 272-7248 or by email. You’ll find us in the Rose Room of the Barn Building on the Museum grounds, 12340 Highway 128, Boonville.

Featured Books

Then and Now: An Anderson Valley Journey

Anderson Valley has certainly changed significantly over its long history. Yet Then and Now: An Anderson Valley Journey, by Wes Smoot and Stephen Sparks, shows us that in some ways the Valley has altered very little. This fascinating book presents old and new photographs of selected buildings and homes, accompanied by brief “biographies” of each building and locale, thereby providing a journey through history. The reader is encouraged to literally take an excursion along the length of beautiful Anderson Valley and observe the sixty locations that are featured alongside or near to Highway 128, the 2-lane road that winds through Anderson Valley. Through the descriptions and photos, you’ll see how some places have changed and some stayed surprisingly constant. A delight to read as you drive through the Valley or relax in your armchair at home, Then and Now offers a vibrant trip through this unique region and its history for local folks and visitors alike. To order, call (707) 895-3207 or email the Anderson Valley Historical Society.

Anderson Valley—Images of America

Authored by the Historical Society and using pictures from the museum and many private collections, this book uses pictures to share the history of Anderson Valley and the fun of Boontling. To order, call (707) 895-3207 or email the Anderson Valley Historical Society.

For a full list of available books and gifts related to Anderson Valley history please go to Books.

Events