Petaluma Adobe State Park - June 5, 2010

Walking Distance: .2 mi. (estimate)
Walking Time: 46 min. (4:00 - 4:46 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Parking Lot, Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park, Petaluma, CA

I visited this park last month, but it was closed (due to budget cutbacks).  Fortunately, it was open today, and we were able to tour the grounds and the inside of this large, old adobe house that once belonged to General Vallejo.

After we parked in a shady picnic area, we crossed a wooden bridge, over a stream. A short path took us around a large area of cactus with yellow-orange blossoms, and to the old Adobe house. The thick adobe brick walls kept the house nice and cool inside.

The park contained what was once part of a 66,000 acre rancho, where cattle were "processed" for hides and tallow, and other work was carried out. The only livestock or animals we spotted, from the upstairs balcony, were a donkey and a horse browsing peacefully below.

Seeing inside the rooms and looking at the many applications for cowhides (hung in doorways, stretched across wooden bedframes) was very interesting. Two large hornos ("beehive ovens") sat outside in the courtyard.


Thank you to Alec for joining me today.

Wildlife Sightings:
4 big, fat squirrels; 4 little brown jobs (LBJs); 1 donkey; 1 horse; 1 hawk; 1 red-winged blackbird; 1 brown lizard.