A Short History of Sonoma

by Lynn Downey

Sonoma is one of Northern California’s most desirable places to live and a popular tourist destination, combining small-town charm, a colorful past, and its current role as the hub of one of the world’s premier wine-producing regions. A Short History of Sonoma traces its past from the Native American peoples who first inhabited the valley, proceeding through the establishment of a mission by Spanish priests, the Bear Flag Revolt that began California’s movement to become part of the United States, the foundation of what would become a celebrated wine industry, and its role today as the center of a sophisticated and highly envied food and wine culture.

The book also addresses such topics as the development of local ranching and businesses and of transportation links to San Francisco that helped to make Sonoma and the surrounding Valley of the Moon a popular location for summer homes and resorts. It discusses the role of the nearby hot springs in attracting visitors and permanent residents, including people seeking cures for various ailments. There are also accounts of some of the famous people who lived in or near Sonoma and helped establish its mystique, including Mexican general Mariano Vallejo, the town’s first leader; Hungarian winemaker Agoston Haraszthy, who first saw the region’s potential for producing superior wines; and writers Jack London and M. F. K. Fisher, who made their homes in the Valley of the Moon, drawn by its beauty and bucolic lifestyle.

A Short History of Sonoma is generously illustrated with vintage photographs. It is a delightful account of one of America’s most charming towns and its evolution from rowdy frontier settlement to the paragon of sophisticated living that it is today.

Genres: History

176 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2013

About the author

I'm a second generation Californian, a historian of the West, and I aspire to be a full-fledged desert rat. I practice frequently on visits to Nevada and Arizona where I scour the desert for history and stories.

My latest release is "Arequipa Sanatorium: Live in California's Lung Resort for Women." It's a history of the place where my grandmother and hundreds of other women were cured of the dreaded tuberculosis in the early 20th century. https://oupress.com/books/15231554/ar...

My desert rat side just published "Arizona's Vulture Mine and Vulture City." https://www.arcadiapublishing.com/Pro...

When I'm not writing I work as a consulting archivist, historian, and curator and have spent time at some great organizations: Charles M. Schulz Museum (Santa Rosa CA), Desert Caballeros Western Museum (Wickenburg AZ) and the Chemehuevi Indian tribe (Lake Havasu City AZ).

Right now I'm researching my next book, a cultural history of the original American vacation: the dude ranch. Then, just to be different, I'll also publish a memoir of the three years I spent in a San Francisco religious cult.

Reviews

[Harry Allagree · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a delightful short but colorful history of the city of Sonoma, one of my favorite places nearby. I had no idea that Sonoma played such an early & central role in the history of California & in the history of winemaking. Downey is a local writer, and it was through a piece in The Bohemian on local authors that I learned of her book. The two figures which she rightly concentrates on are General Mariano Vallejo & Jack and Charmian London, all an integral part of Sonoma's development at different times & in different ways. I enjoyed Downey's several times repeated quote, voicing the gentle competition between Sonoma & Napa:
"Sonoma means wine. Napa means Auto Parts."

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not great prose, but this little book is full of interesting people and their stories. I was particularly struck that so few people had such influence on the town and its surroundings.