About WSCHS

Preserving The Unique Heritage Of West Sonoma County

Our mission is to protect the heritage of western Sonoma County through inspiration, education, collection, and preservation, and to support community and private efforts toward these goals.

Society

The Western Sonoma County Historical Society is a non-profit organization founded in 1974, and incorporated in 1978 to save the three-acre remnant of Luther Burbank’s Experiment Farm at Gold Ridge in Sebastopol. Later, the Society founded the West County Museum in the Railroad Depot building of the Petaluma & Santa Rosa Railroad on Main Street. Both sites are owned by the City of Sebastopol.

It is a wholly volunteer work supported by members, a few non-government grants, and donations from the public. Members receive the Apple Press newsletter, invitations to exclusive events, and other perks!

Become a Member

Activities

The Historical Society holds four general meetings during the year. Meetings usually feature programs of a timely or historical theme and include a social hour. A newsletter is published monthly except December. The Historical Society maintains the West County Museum and Luther Burbank Gold Ridge Experiment Farm, runs educational programs, conducts research on the history of Sebastopol, and preserves the Society’s collections and archival materials.

The Society also presents annual preservation awards to those who have done an outstanding job of preserving or restoring original architecture or building new structures that keep the flavor and heritage of rural Western Sonoma County.

Support

Make a donation to support your Historical Society. Donations help fund our mission of preserving western Sonoma County’s history and uplifting our communities.

Western Sonoma County Historical Society Celebrating the Cemetery Walk

museum mission statement

The goals of the Museum are: (1) to collect and preserve artifacts, objects, publications, photographs and other documentary materials related to local, ethnic and and family history; (2) to disseminate information about the history of the community through exhibits, educational programs and publications based on the Society’s collections; (3) to maintain a research library of past and current literature on the history of the community; and (4) to encourage the preservation of the historical, architectural and archeological heritage of Sebastopol and surrounding towns in the West County.

To achieve these purposes the Society carries out a broad program of activities including: maintenance of the museum and Reference Room at the Petaluma/Santa Rosa Depot, 261 South Main Street, Sebastopol; educational programs; publications; preservation of the Society’s collections and archival materials; research on the history of Sebastopol; landmark identifications; and cooperation with other local historical societies and organizations.

Here are some key links to other Sonoma County museums, historical societies and the Sonoma County Library. Please visit these websites as well:

Sonoma County Historical Society

Petaluma Museum

Healdsburg Museum

Sonoma County Library

Sonoma County Genealogical Society

For more information call 707-829-6711

farm mission statement

To preserve, study and promote the memory of Luther Burbank and his work.
To educate the public about Luther Burbank’s work and methodology by providing a venue in which living examples of his work can be seen.
To preserve and enhance the artifacts, the site, the structures and the plant materials for current and future generations.
To serve the needs of Luther Burbank scholars and horticultural researchers.

volunteer workday

Volunteers are at the Farm every Wednesday, 9 am to noon.

Stop by to see what we are doing or join us in restoration and maintenance projects at The Farm. We welcome new ideas about how to make the Farm attract more visitors and help our bottom line.

volunteer opportunities

Volunteer Opportunities are available for interested individuals to help with farm maintenance, to become docents, or to speak about the Luther Burbank Gold Ridge Experiment Farm to the community and more.

We have jobs available for people of any ability or interest – propagating plants for sale and regular gardening chores like weeding, raking, pruning, preparing publicity, and maintaining the cottage.

For more information: Call 707-829-2361