On the road again by MARTIN PINE

Free Guided Walking Tours Of Historic Downtown Petaluma
Petaluma, California has free docent-guided walking tours of the historic downtown area nearly every Saturday and Sunday beginning at 10:30 a.m. from May 1 through October 31. The tours leave from the petaluma Historical Library & Museum at 20 Fourth Street.
Costumed docents, elegantly dressed in Victorian attire, tell stories of Petaluma’s past as they lead visitors through the historic downtown district to view graceful ironfront buildings of the 1800s. This area was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. Call the museum at 707-778-4398 or the museum hotline at 707-762-4247 for details.
Visitors who appreciate the beauty of Victorian-era architecture can’t help but compare petaluma’s west side neighborhoods and historic downtown with their own home towns and wonder how Petalumans got so lucky. In the 1906 earthquake, San Francisco, to the south, and Santa Rosa, to the north, suffered extensive structural damage. petaluma remained virtually untouched. In 1967, Heritage Homes of Petaluma was established to promote the preservation and restoration of vintage buildings of historical, architectural or cultural significance.
Stroll along Petaluma Boulevard and become acquainted with California’s largest collection of 19th century iron front buildings. View visiting yachts bobbing in the Petaluma River Turning Basin and learn that the city was originally settled along the river as a hunter’s camp. The river is still an important waterway for commercial and leisure boat traffic, and serves as the focal point for community celebrations.
Take a step back in time while exploring Petaluma’s turn-of-the-century historic downtown, riverfront, antique stores and Victorian neighborhoods. Copies of the self-guided historic downtown and Victorian homes walking tours are available in the official Petaluma Visitors Guide, “Visit Petaluma” and at the petaluma Visitors Center.
“The Streets of Petaluma — A Walk Through Our City’s Past” starts in the heart of the city, where the town began as a hunter’s camp in 1850. It’s easy to imagine the city’s early growth as a bustling riverfront shipping point, with San Francisco booming to the south and valleys of settlers to the north.
The tour includes 38 landmarks and buildings that survived the 1906 earthquake, including Ironfront Row. The south side of the block of Western Avenue between Petaluma Boulevard North and Kentucky Street was built in the late 1880s in the popular, but inadequate style of affixing cast iron columns, window details, and facing plates to wooden structures in an effort to prevent fire damage. These buildings are considered to be excellent examples of the once-popular style.
Hollywood loves Petaluma’s “Americana” appearance. petaluma’s historic downtown and country roads have long been favorites of commercial and feature filmmakers. Wander through petaluma’s commercial and residential districts to visit some of its most famous movie sites.
Arrive in historic downtown by bicycle or car, but then park — either in the city garage at Keller Street and Western Avenue, or play it safe and use a four-hour zone, to allow for browsing in antique or specialty shops and a coffee stop. And, oh yes, wear walking shoes because with so many walking tour options, Petaluma most definitely is the “Town Made For Walking.”
“American Graffiti,” “Basic Instinct,” and “Peggy Sue Got Married” — these are just a few of the many films that have captured the charm and style of Petaluma on film. Commercials have also been filmed here.
Those who have seen “American Graffiti,” filmed in 1973, might recognize Petaluma’s main street (now Petaluma Boulevard), as the setting for the cruising scenes. Director George Lucas chose petaluma as the backdrop for his classic coming of age film, starring Ron Howard, Richard Dreyfuss, and harrison Ford. During filming, Lucas placed advertisements in the local paper looking for 1940s and 1950s cars in good condition. Many of the cars’ owners were also used in the film.
Also filmed here were: “Mumford,” “Phenomenon,” “The Horse Whisperer,” a remake of “Lolita,” “Hollywood on Location,” and “Basic Instinct.”
To learn more about these and other movies filmed in Petaluma, visit the website of the Sonoma County Film Office at www.sonoma-county.org/film.
Tours depart from the Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 20 Fourth Street. The museum is housed in a stately Carnegie Library building featuring the original woodwork and an impressive freestanding stained glass dome. There is no charge, but donations are accepted and benefit the museum. For more information call 707-778-4398 or the museum hotline at 707-762-4247.
Stop in at the Petaluma Visitors Center located at 800 Baywood Drive or call 1-877-2-PETALUMA (273-8258), for the free Official Petaluma Visitors Guide, “Visit Petaluma,” with information about attractions, lodging, restaurants, and shopping at 30 antique stores or other outlets.