Programs and publications

In 1985, two walking tour brochures for the historic downtown areas were developed. Every year since 1988 the Fourth of July Musical Americana has been offered in the museum's tree shaded courtyard. Co-sponsored by the Vacaville Reporter, this free program draws a crowd of 300 - 400 people each year.

Since 1985, the Museum has coordinated an annual Christmas Open House with the downtown tree-lighting event, Merriment on Main. In 2001, more than 1000 people visited the Museum on this one evening, enjoyed the free onion soup provided by the Museum Guild members, and listened to the Kids R Music group sing in the courtyard.

In September 1997 the first Sallie Fox Day was offered in the museum courtyard. It attracted approximately 400 people - mostly families - who participated in the free hands-on demonstrations of tin-smithing, butter making, dyeing cloth using walnut hulls, and simulated "gold panning." Author of the children's book about Sallie Fox, Dorothy Leland, was on hand to tell pioneer stories, and early Americana music was played. This is now another annual event that draws hundreds of visitors each year and integrates well with third and fourth grade curriculum on local and state history.

In 1989 Solano Women traveling exhibits (funded by the California Council of Humanities) were made available to county schools, libraries, and businesses. More than 20,000 people have viewed these exhibits. Also in 1989, a native garden was planted on site with an accompanying interpretive brochure.

An exhibit on California botanist and Vacaville Native son, Willis Jepson was produced in 1991 in collaboration with the U C Berkeley Jepson Herbarium, entitled Willis Jepson, A Personal Landscape, and is available as a traveling exhibit.

In 1997, the exhibit Nut Tree Remembered, a Nostalgic Look Back at a California Original, was supplemented by the Museum publication of Nut Tree Remembered, The Cookbook. This cookbook, now in its second printing, is the largest compilation of Nut Tree recipes ever released and includes photos and images of the famous California landmark.

In a tribute to the substantial influence of agriculture in Solano County, the Museum compiled an oral history archive of interviews with over 50 ranchers and farmers between 1997 and 1999. These interviews are the basis for the rich story of the orchard industry written by Kristen Delaplane with Museum curator Sabine Goerke-Shrode, and illustrated by the photography of Phillip Adam, in a book entitled Solano's Gold, The People and their Orchards, published by the Museum in 1999.

On June 2, 2001, Vacaville Museum hosted a reunion of former Vacaville residents of Japanese ancestry who were forced to leave Vacaville for internment camps on May 2, and May 3, 1942. This Omo i de (memories and reminiscences) event was the culmination of over 2 years of research and included the publication of a book from that research (Omo i de, Memories of Vacaville's Lost Japanese Community by Takashi Tsujita and Karen Nolan). The Museum worked with a committee of Japanese community members, volunteers and paid staff to produce the historic event. Recognition for the significance of the project came through political support and proclamations from the County Board of Supervisors, the Mayor of Vacaville, and significant press coverage. Over 200 former residents and their families attended the event at the McBride Senior Center, followed by a reception at the Museum. A special display of artifacts from the Museum collection was exhibited for attendees. Through Omo i de, the Museum established another connection with the past that has proven important to the community.

As a non-profit organization, the Museum relies on membership support, donations, grants, endowment funds and fundraisers to meet its annual budget. Museum membership is an ideal opportunity to support the Museum's exploration of Solano County heritage. With the help of Museum members and the work of the Guild, Vacaville Museum continues to provide exhibits, special events, programs, teaching resources and much more.