Napa County Landmarks

The California Preservation Foundation is hosting a professional education webinar on August 22 from 10:30 am to 1 pm featuring Napa County Landmarks board member Shari Kamimori discussing "Innovative Technologies and Emerging Techniques: 3D Documentation and Reproduction." Lisa Federici and David Bassett of Scansite will also be presenting a case study on the restoration of our building the First National Bank in downtown Napa.

Register here for live access and the recording:

Innovative Technologies and Emerging Techniques: 3D Documentation and Reproduction California Preservation Foundation

Did you know Rock Hudson and Jean Simmons filmed "This Earth is Mine" in Napa Valley? The 1888 Yountville Depot station made a cameo. Check out this pre-film promo with wine producer Otto Meyer meeting Hudson at the San Francisco airport and then helicoptering to the vineyards.

This Earth is Mine movie - Rock Hudson in Napa Valley archival stock footage Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/PublicDomainFootageLike: http://Facebook.com/PublicDomainFootageVisit: http://www.PublicDomainFootage.comFollow: http://Tw...

Catch friend and history expert Judge Ray Guadagni at Napa County Library on July 16, 6 pm, for a discussion of his new book "The Napa Valley Lendvest Fraud Scandal," sponsored by Napa Bookmine. Judge Guadagni grew up in the valley and is the host of our popular Little Italy Tour. Reservations are required https://events.napalibrary.org/event/11141080.

Author Event: The Napa Valley Lendvest Fraud Scandal Join us, in collaboration with Napa Bookmine, for a special event featuring Raymond A. Guadagni, author of The Napa Valley Lendvest Fraud Scandal.

Yajome Street in Napa sports a proliferation of architectural styles. From mid century modern to Victorian cottages to Quonset huts!

Dinner at the Museum: Ticket deadline July 5! Silent auction aficionados: Think about a couples massage at Meadowood followed by lunch at Forum. , , ,

Last Saturday, the community gathered to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Napa Valley Genealogical Society. The gracious program included eats from Small World Restaurant, followed by words from Napa Mayor Scott Sedgley, former County Supervisor Brad Wagenknecht, and Mark and Sally Perkins, President and VP. All shared in the commitment to collecting the stories of the people who have lived in and made Napa County what it is today.

Discover the rich architectural heritage of Napa Valley through the lens of the visionary architects who have shaped its landscape. This article Visit Napa Valley delves into the influential figures whose designs have left an indelible mark on Napa Valley, from the early pioneers to modern innovators. Learn about their iconic creations and the unique styles that define the region's charm and character. Whether you're a history enthusiast, architecture lover, or simply curious about Napa Valley's cultural legacy, this piece offers a fascinating glimpse into the minds behind some of its most beloved structures. 20th and 21st century architects include Michael Graves, Cliff May, Herzog & de Meuron, Scott Johnson of Johnson, Fain, & Pereira, Friedensreich Hundertwasser, Howard Backen, BAR Architects, Juancarlos Fernandez & Jarrod Denton, and William Turnbull.

The Architects Who Influenced the Napa Valley The natural beauty of the Napa Valley has inspired many of the worlds most influential architects who have helped shape the design landscape of the Valley. Below is an overview of the architects who

It is amazing that this residence is still here to enjoy!

Pictured here is the Chiles House. Built in 1856, the Chiles House is one of the oldest houses in Napa Valley! Located at Inglenook the homes’ original owner, Colonel J.B. Chiles, built several other homes across the valley. cc: Visit Napa Valley

Support our history friends at the St. Helena Historical Society & Heritage Center at their annual dinner experience with Honorary Chair Mike Thompson. Tickets available now!

Dinner at the Museum. Breaking news! Congressman Mike Thompson will be our Honorary Chair for this event. Ticket deadline: July 5. Tickets by check, mail to Box 87, St.Helena or by Eventbrite, https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dinner-at-the-museum-fundraiser-tickets-833520441077?aff=oddtdtcreator.
More info on our website, shstory.org

Great time to get out and walk around Napa with the Napa County Historical Society.

It's already time for our Downtown Walking Tours this weekend! Friday, June 14th (11am-12:30pm) and Sunday, June 16th (3:00-4:30pm) we will be guiding our historic downtown walking tour starting at the Goodman Library, the town's first permanent public library location! We then make our way towards Main Street and loop our way past over a dozen landmarks in downtown.
Special $30 ticket price for NCHS Members, $45 General Admission.
We hope you'll join us!
Visit napahistory.org/events/ to select your tour date and buy tickets.

There's still time to sign up for Mark Gudgel's book talk this Sunday, "Rise of Napa Valley Wineries: How the Judgment of Paris Put California Wine on the Map." We're so grateful to be able to have Dr. Gudgel join us in-person to talk about his new book!
This is an in-person presentation at the historic Goodman Library, 1219 First Street.
Sunday, June 9th, 4:30pm - 5:30pm. $35 General Admission, $30 NCHS Members, $15 Students. Get tickets at napahistory.org/event/mark-gudgel

Watch our featured interview with Dr. Sheli Smith of Napa County Historical Society, discussing Historic Wellness Resorts in Napa Valley.

Napa's Historic Wellness Resorts with Dr. Sheli Smith, Napa County Historical Society Get ready for our first event during Preservation Month 2024! Join Christine Madrid French, Executive Director of Napa County Landmarks, and Dr. Sheli Smith,...

Pictured here is the Chiles House. Built in 1856, the Chiles House is one of the oldest houses in Napa Valley! Located at Inglenook the homes’ original owner, Colonel J.B. Chiles, built several other homes across the valley. cc: Visit Napa Valley

Our Executive Director spent some time this week at Inglenook. The winery was founded in 1879 by Finnish sea captain Gustave Niebaum. The winery’s architect was Niebaum’s employee at the time, Hamden McIntyre (fun fact: he was not trained as an architect but designed several wineries in the area) and a chateau on the property was designed by San Francisco architect William Mooser and completed by 1887. Niebaum was inspired by the great European chateaus of the time and wanted to replicate that style at the winery. Upon Niebaum’s passing in 1908 and Prohibition the winery was temporarily shut down.

The winery went through several owners after the end of Prohibition until Ford Coppola, the famous film director who directed the Oscar-winning The Godfather films, bought it in 1975. In 1995, the Coppola’s bought back the original chateau as it had been previously sold and once again integrated it as part of the winery. Today the Coppola family has continued to run a successful and thriving winery.

Make room on your calendars this weekend!

It's not often that we get to invite a guest speaker from Omaha, but on June 9th Dr. Mark Gudgel is joining us to talk about his recent book, "The Rise of Napa Valley Wineries," available through Arcadia Publishing. It's also the first lecture since 2020 that we've hosted in our exhibit hall at the Historic Goodman Library! Truly a rarity.
Get your tickets today at https://napahistory.org/event/mark-gudgel/
Tickets are $30 for NCHS Members, $35 General Admission, and $15 for Students.

Thank you to Charles Loveman from Heritage Housing Partners (pictured below), community advocate and former Landmarks Board Member Daniel Cutright, and Landmarks Board Member Shari Kammimori from 3D Virtual Design Technology for speaking at yesterday’s session “Preserving Heritage, Fostering Affordability: An Adaptive Reuse and New Development Project for Neighborhood Revitalization.”

Along with the Moderator, NCL’s Christine Madrid French, the group led a conversation on the reuse of historic structures for housing. Cc: National Trust for Historic Preservation

NCL participated at a cocktail gathering at the beautiful Westin Bonaventure Hotel!

Built between 1973-1974, the 33-story hotel was designed by neofuturistic architect John Portman Jr., a famous architect who designed other hotels for Hyatt, Westin, and Marriott. Portman originally invested in the hotel as well as a subsidiary of the Mitsubishi Corporation. Today it has a revolving restaurant and bar on the top floor and has been featured in several shows and movies.

Fun fact: although there are 33 floors, the elevators go to floor 35 as the numbers 7 and 13 have been removed.

NCL would like to thank California Preservation Foundation Executive Director, Cindy Heitzman, Programs & Engagement Manager, Lisa Versaci, and Field Services Director, Jon Haeber (pictured below) for putting together the California Preservation Conference. We recognize the hard work and dedication it takes to organize and successfully pull off such an event. Cc: National Trust for Historic Preservation

More photographs of the beautiful and luxurious building. Fun fact: if you are a fan of American Horror Story: Hotel, the exterior of the Cicada Restaurant was used as the exterior of the fictional Hotel Cortez.

Honored that our Executive Director, Christine Madrid French, invited Charles Phoenix and Alan Hess as NCL’s guests during the Presidents Circle Reception at the California Preservation Conference in Downtown Los Angeles. We were also pleased to rub elbows with the one and only Peter Moruzzi!

This year’s reception was held in the Cicada Room of the Oviatt Building built in 1928. Located in downtown , the Art Deco high rise made its way onto the National Register of Historic Places in 1983! California Preservation Foundation

This California landmark built in 1893 is located in downtown . The Bradbury Building is a 5-story building is designed in the Italian Renaissance Revival style with ornamental cast iron, brick, terracotta, Italian marble, and Mexican tile.

The building has been featured in several movies, most notably the 1982 film Blade Runner, television shows such as CSI:NY, and music videos with artists like Janet Jackson and Earth, Wind, and Fire.

Today the building is on the National Register of Historic Places, a National Historic Landmark, and a landmark by the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission.

The Broadway Arcade building in is a three story shopping arcade covered by glass roofs. It opened in 1924 on the site of the Mercantile Place. Its architecture is reminiscent of the Parisian Beaux Arts and Spanish-Baroque styles. Today it is a mix of retail stores, bars, and restaurants.

Today’s tour continues! Below is Clifton’s Cafeteria, the oldest cafeteria-style restaurant in Los Angeles and the largest public cafeteria in the world!

Founded in 1931 by Clifford Clinton, there were close to a dozen locations run by 5 generations of the Clinton family. The last of the restaurants, Clifton’s Republic, finally shut its doors in 2018.

The famous St. Vincent Court, a tiny alleyway with its entrance on Seventh Street!

Formerly known as St. Vincent Place, the place is named after St. Vincent’s College and came to be in 1957. The architecture reminds one of being in Europe, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean all at once with decorations that portray false storefronts mixed in with actual stores and tiny cafes.

Besides attending the California Preservation Conference, NCL’s Executive Director and board members are taking a tour around today!

Below is the 12-story Bank of Italy, completed in 1922 and a forerunner for Bank of America. Built in the style of Neoclassical architecture with golden ceilings, marble floors, and bronze front doors with terra cotta sculptures.

Today it is known as the Hotel Per La by Marriott Bonvoy offering guests Italian inspired accommodations.

NCL has officially checked into the Biltmore Hotel in for this year’s California Preservation Conference!

The Biltmore was built in 1923 with architectural designs that paid homage to the Spanish-Italian Renaissance Revival, Mediterranean Revival, and the Parisian Beaux-Arts style.

In the second photo is the beautiful, Moorish revival style Rendezvous Court, originally the hotel’s lobby. Today it is primarily used for afternoon tea where patrons can marvel at its 24-carat gold accents, original Italian chandeliers, and the astrological clock placed in the bronze doorway.

The annual California Preservation Conference is officially here! Napa County Landmarks will be in until June 1st and we hope to see you there! Cc: California Preservation Foundation National Trust for Historic Preservation

In 1884, the Veterans Home of California, located in the Town of Yountville - Local Government was founded by the Grand Army of the Republic and the Society of Mexican War Veterans. When the home opened on April 1, 1884, they only had 17 residents. Today this 600-acre property with its Spanish-style buildings boasts close to 800 disabled veterans from WWII to Operation Iraqi Freedom.

We hope you had time to reflect this weekend on the lives our brave servicemen and servicewomen have sacrificed in our honor. CC: California Department of Veterans Affairs