Petaluma River History Vault
Petaluma Waterfront, 1920. Shows schooner and Hunt & Behrens Poultry Supplies building. [LINK to image in Sonoma County Library Digital Collection]
The Petaluma River is our Origin Waterway
Explore its history with The Floathouse
As we grow our programming to answer our own and your questions about the history of our origin waterway, a 13-mile tidal slough winding from San Pablo Bay through wetlands and straight into downtown Petaluma, we will continue to add to the resources in this digital vault.
We look forward to learning with you, and sharing our findings.
(The Floathouse Crew, 2025)
Note: In most cases, you can click on the photo to access the image in the Sonoma County Library Digital Collection.
Pomo person fishing from tule reed canoe, Pomo (now Clear )Lake, 1924. Photo: Edward S. Curtis
Tule reed canoe. Art by Erica Fielder
Tule reed shelter. Art by Erica Fielder
Washington Street Bridge, 1895 (simple rolling platform, built 1858)
Scow schooner "Pinole" on Petaluma Creek, 1904
East Petaluma lot from the Rodehaver Building next to Washington Street bridge, 1905. Notice the bicyclist pedaling across the turntable bridge. Visible: lumber, George P. McNear feed mill, George P. McNear warehouse.
GP McNear and his single scull, 1910
George P. McNear, Jr., sculling on the Petaluma River, 1910
Louise McNear and George P. McNear, Jr. pose with their mother Ida Belle McNear in the yard at "Belleview," the McNear home in Petaluma, around 1910.
Unloading feed for Petaluma chickens at Vonsen warehouses near D. Street bridge, 1909
Scows docked behind Vonsen warehouse (on 1st Street, south of D. Street bridge) 1911
Washington Street bridge raised for river traffic, 1914
Schooner docked at McNear Feed Mill, 1915
Oil drums being unloaded from Osborn and Bornholdt Firefighting barge, 1920
Schooner loaded with bags of grain at the docks in downtown Petaluma. Hunt & Behrens built this mill at 1st and C Streets in 1921.
Bihn Hatchery, founded 1904, on Bodega Avenue between Baker and Upham Streets: Largest White Leghorn hatchery in the world, hatching 250,000 chicks every three weeks, 1925
Barge loaded with bags of grain for the Golden Eagle Milling Company, 1930
Old D Street Bridge (swing bridge) 1933
Tugboat "Golden Eagle" towing a barge underneath the Washington Street Bridge, about 1938
Poultry Producers of Central California grain elevator, under construction, sports 30' electric Christmas tree, 250' above ground, attached to concrete elevator tower by 1/2" cables, 1937
Two Model A cars parked outside feed mill (Poultry Producers of Central CA, now Dairyman's Feed), 1938
View of Petaluma River, Poultry, East Washington & Water Streets. From what is now Dairyman's Feed, 1938.
Petaluma River south of Washington Street bridge, showing Water Street, behind where Water Street Bistro is now, 1947
Poultry Producers of Central California feed mill (Later Dairyman's Feed), 1949
Mills and warehouses along Petaluma River, 1940s. Visible: Golden Eagle Milling Co. warehouses, milling company to left. Dairy Feed grain elevator, center; G.P. McNear Feed warehouses, right.
Map of Petaluma turning basin area, 1949
Petaluma's first "Yacht Club" for speedboats and waterskiing, opening day. Near Van Bebber property, Second Street, Petaluma. 1940.
Water skier on the Petaluma River, 1950s
Passengers aboard the yacht "Tizmyne" in Petaluma, 1950
Dairyman's Feed Company Building, 1954
Pioneer Shell Company warehouse, 1954 (directly downstream of D Street bridge, on east side of river)
Pleasure boats tied up behind Golden Eagle Milling Co., 1954
View of Water Street, new pilings near Washington Street bridge, 1954. (Stone Furniture Co. is now 172 Pet. Blvd. N. Buildings to its right were demolished in 1971 to widen E. Washington St.)
Tugboat "Tehama" going under Washington Street Drawbridge 1958
Pleasure boats moored in Petaluma, 1960
Boats in Petaluma Turning Basin, 1962. Bay Bridge Garage (now Adobe Road Winery) in background to right.
Yacht by Golden Eagle Milling Co., 1962
Canoe Races on the Petaluma River, 1964
Youngster pilots pontoon boat on Petaluma River, 1965
Petaluma Turning Basin, 1965
Aerial view of Petaluma River Turning Basin and upstream, showing Dairyman's Feed building, 1973
Dairyman's Feed Building and ramshackle buildings, 1972
Petaluma & Santa Rosa Railroad trestle behind McNear Hay and Grain , 1973. Visible in background: Bank at Western and Pet. Blvd. N (prior to Water Street Bistro building construction).
McNear Channel, looking northwest, 1975
Petaluma River near turning basin, with River House (then Farrell House Restaurant) in background, 1978
Sand barge and steamer moored on Petaluma River. October, 1981
Opening Ceremonies of Combined Old Adobe Fiesta and Petaluma River Festival, Washington Street Bridge, 1986
Raft Races on the Petaluma River, Old Adobe and Petaluma River Festival, 1986
Spectators crowd docks and trestle at Old Adobe and Petaluma River Festival, 1986
Railroad Trestle along Petaluma River, 103 Water St., between 1977 and 1986
Petaluma & Santa Rosa Railroad trestle, about 1990. Balshaw bridge in background
Railroad trestle along the Petaluma River, 1997
Lighted Boat Parade, 2012. Photo: Kent Porter
Day on The River, 2014 (Day on The River ran from 2009 to 2020, as a simulation of what it would be like to have river access for all.)
Day on The River volunteers carry Whitehall row boat to city docks in basin for event, 2019
Volunteers move Floathouse docks to turning basin, Venice style, 2018
Floathouse Pilings go in, September 2018
Pilings for The Floathouse Petaluma are placed in turning basin, September, 2018
Renew Yoga celebrates 19th anniversary on brand new, empty Floathouse docks, Oct. 19, 2021
Volunteers carry racks to Floathouse docks, October, 2021
The Floathouse Petaluma in turning basin by River Plaza, September 2022. Photo: Scott Hess
The Floathouse Petaluma, in temporary downtown location below trestle and Riverfront Cafe, July 2024. Photo: Scott Hess
Bands on The Basin, a Floathouse Fundraiser begun during COVID, 2021
So many witches! Witches & Wizards on The Water, 2022
Lighted Boat Parade, 2021. Photo: Sharon Payne
Floathouse tour at railroad trestle, 2023
Floathouse Summer Campers, 2024