Novato History Museum

Explore the Novato History Museum: The Journey to Now

Housed in the historic 1850 Postmaster’s House, the Novato History Museum offers a journey through time, revealing the pivotal events and people that shaped our community today.

The Novato History Museum was created by a collaboration with community organizations and the city of Novato.  In 1975, the City bought the old dilapidated house for $1.00 and moved it to its current site on DeLong Avenue. The Novato Historical Guild and other community organizations renovated the building to be the Novato History Museum in 1976.  Since that time the museum has been a partnership, with the City owning the building and artifacts and the Historical Guild volunteers operating the museum.   

  • Hours:

    Wednesday, Thursday, & Saturday 12pm - 4pm

    Location:

    815 DeLong Avenue, Novato, CA 94945
    (415) 897-4320
    info@novatohistory.org

  • Follow the fascinating journey of Novato, from the land grant days of the 1800s, to the dairies and chicken farms of the early 1900s, through the housing boom and growth of the1950s to the 21st century.   You can have a docent guided tour of the museum or explore at your own pace with our QR code or printed guide.

    Special Exhibit:

    • Novato Then and Now – See how our town has evolved through the decades with this captivating display comparing historical photos with modern-day scenes.

    To see more visit our online collection, and CaliforniaRevealed.org.

  • Experience Novato’s history firsthand with a guided tour of the museum and Old Town Novato. The museum tour takes 45 minutes, while the Old Town walking tour lasts about an hour. Tours are available by appointment, ensuring you get a personalized experience of the town’s rich heritage.  To schedule a tour, contact us!

    Tours for Schools:
    Each spring, we offer special tours for third-grade students, helping them connect with the local history they’re studying. Schools serving Novato students are welcome to schedule a tour.

  • Our archives house a wealth of historical materials such as photographs, maps, business journals, minutes of organizations and legal documents.  With the help of our knowledgeable docents these materials are available to researchers and visitors curious about Novato’s past.

    Our collection includes:

    • Maps of Novato

    • Photos of Novato’s early years to the present

    • Oral Histories (1920s to 2024)

    • Videos of Novato (1955 – present)

    • Newspaper clippings

    • The Novato Advance database (1922 – 2012)

    Appointments
    To use the research archives at our museums, we recommend scheduling an appointment to ensure a docent is available to assist you by emailing info@novatohistory.org or calling 415-897-4320.

  • Two binders containing photos and descriptions of the individual Marin Dell dairies in Marin and Sonoma counties in the 1950’s.

    Links to Binders:

  • The Museum Gift Shops have the perfect gift for local history lovers.  You can visit the Gift Shops during the museums regular open hours.

    For more information, please call the Novato History Museum at 415-897-4320.

Novato’s Journey

Join us for a video tour of Novato’s journey from 1857 to the 21st century.

See More Videos

Historical Timeline

In 1860 the population of the Novato settlement was 234. In 1960 the population had suddenly grown to 17,881. The timeline of Novato’s history explores key events that shaped our community. From early settlers to modern-day developments, this timeline is a comprehensive overview of Novato’s evolution.

See the Timeline

Third Grade Tours

We offer third grade tours provided by our wonderful volunteers.

See More Videos
A vintage black and white photo of a horse-drawn carriage with six people inside, some children, and a man holding a flag that reads "NOVATO HORSEMEN INC.". Several people are on horseback and a man stands nearby, with cars and a building in the background.

Explore Our Online Collection

Browse, Explore, and Learn
Each thumbnail image in the collection represents a piece of Novato’s history. Click on any image to learn more and see additional details. For a closer look, simply click the image again to enlarge it.

    • Search: Use the Search button for a quick keyword search, or opt for the Advanced Search to narrow down your results and explore specific topics in more depth.

    • Browse by Topic: Click on one of the topics below to explore photos related to that theme.

    • Featured Collections: Explore our carefully curated collections by clicking on the photos below.

    • Random Images: Want to be surprised? Try Random Images to randomly browse through pieces of Novato’s history

    • Categories: You can also explore the collection by selecting from categories like Archives, Objects, or Photos

    Please Note: Our Online Collection is an ongoing project and is updated regularly with new materials and insights.

    • Agriculture

    • Business

    • Churches

    • Community House

    • Disasters

    • Events

    • Groups and Organizations

    • Public Buildings

    • Residences

    • Schools

    • Streets and Roads

    • Transportation

    • Views

    • Grant Avenue General Store

Visit the Online Collection

Other Historical Resources