Coastal Traveler - Fall 2008 - (Page 100)

coastalguide Petaluma By Dan Miner The historic riverfront town of Petaluma was founded in 1852. The Victorian mansions and riverfront brick buildings of the oldfashioned downtown are interspersed with Spanish colonial, neo-classical, Gothic Revival and Italianate samples. Espresso and antique shops, theatres and bookstores line the clean and hilly streets. Mid-19th century gold miners found a tremendous resource in the Petaluma River. Hunters set up camp in 1851, and by the1860s Petaluma was one of California’s largest cities. In the 20th century, Petaluma’s river port identity was transformed by Canadian immigrant Lyman Bruce, inventor of the modern, large-volume incubator. By 1930, four million chickens cooped around Petaluma were producing 41 million eggs a year for export throughout the state. High costs in the late 1940s forced thousands of chicken farmers to transfer ownership to a few large producers, but the era’s wealth is still visible in its buildings. Petaluma Boulevard parallels the river and is the main artery of old Petaluma. The ornate McNear and Old Mill Buildings are honeycombed with places to eat, shop, or catch a show. In the past couple of decades, antique stores have moved into almost every empty storefront. Parallel to Petaluma Boulevard, one block west from the river, is Kentucky Street, where several storefronts are made of flat-iron – the result of a belief, now known to be mistaken, that such construction made buildings less vulnerable to fire. No Wal-Mart has killed this little downtown. Instead you’ll find espresso and cowboys, theatre and bookstores, antiques and movies. But Petaluma is threatened by development on its eastern edge, where there are many tract homes and malls. Let’s hope the town realizes how special it is, and fights to keep it from becoming the “historic” zone of a larger, more banal city. Where to Stay Quality Inn 5100 Montero Way • 800.575.5755 The Metro 707.773.4900 • www.metrolodging.com Hotel Petaluma 707.762.4531 • www.hotelpetaluma.com Fine art, antiques and collectables , Classic to modern. Buy and sell. 110 Petaluma Blvd No., Petaluma. 707.789.9553. Pierre’s Art & Antiques Where to Eat McNear’s House • 23 Petaluma Blvd. • 707.765.2121 OTEO • 151 Second St., Petaluma 707.781.0657 Hiro’s Restaurant • 707.763.2300 www.hirosrestaurant.com Where to Shop Pierre Art & Antiques 110 Petaluma Blvd. • 707.789.9553 Where to Play Mystic Theater 31 Petaluma Blvd. • 707.765.2121 Great food, games, and banquets since 1886. Live Music. Full bar. 21-23 Petaluma Blvd. 707.765.2121. www.mcnears.com McNear’s Dining House & Theatre 100coastaltraveler fall http://www.metrolodging.com http://www.hotelpetaluma.com http://www.hirosrestaurant.com http://www.mcnears.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Coastal Traveler - Fall 2008

Coastal Traveler - Fall 2008 Contents Coastal Connoisseur Coastal Picks Coastal Flyer Coastal Driver Coastal Eco Coastal Sociologist Coastal Biker Coastal Snaps Coastal Valet San Diego La Jolla Laguna Beach Malibu Santa Barbara San Luis Obispo Big Sur Carmel Monterey Santa Cruz San Francisco Sausalito Mill Valley Stinson Beach Bolinas Sebastopol Olema Point Reyes Station Fairfax Inverness Marshall, Tomales Petaluma Sonoma Coast Redwood Coast

Coastal Traveler - Fall 2008

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