Napa County Historical Society

The Napa County Historical Society is a research, archival and educational organization dedicated to the discovery, preservation and presentation of the people and history of Napa County, and its place in California History. Our purpose is to keep history alive through historical research, publications and educational activities.

Conceived on May 8, 1948, at a pioneer picnic at the Old Bale Mill, the Napa County Historical Society was incorporated on May 14th of the same year. The picturesque mill, built in 1846 by the English settler of the Rancho Carne Humana, Dr. E. Bale, was an appropriate setting for the inauguration of the Society.

The Research Library has books on California and Napa Valley history, old city directories, many original manuscripts, hundreds of old photographs of pioneer settlers and historical sites, and thousands of newspaper clippings pertaining to local history and residents. There are also old maps, architectural plans, and videos.

In addition to material resources, the Library users have access to the older members of the Society who lived the history and are willing to share their memories with researchers and the younger generation. Their reminiscences are currently being collected and preserved on audio tapes by the Society's Oral History Committee.

Volunteer researchers provide assistance to people looking for information about the Napa Valley. We work closely with the Napa County Genealogical Society and Napa County Landmarks, the local historic preservation group, to provide facts on people, places and events.