Park Museums are CLOSED
Sonoma State Historic Park
EFFECTIVE (October 30, 2020) - Thank you for your patience and continued support of California State Parks as we work to limit your risk for exposure to COVID-19 in the outdoors.
As a reminder, Californians are encouraged to avoid road trips and stay close to home, maintain physical distancing, wear a face covering when a physical distance of six feet cannot be maintained from others, and avoid congregating. Everyone has the responsibility to slow down the spread of COVID-19.
Here are some additional guidelines for locals visiting Sonoma State Historic Park:
What is open now?
What is currently closed?
Are there any new visitor guidelines?
Yes, please see below:
Statewide, California State Parks continues to work with locals on a phased and regionally-driven approach to increase access to state park units where compliance with state and local public health ordinances can be achieved. Even though the department has increased access across the State Park System, the need for Californians to slow the spread of COVID-19 in the outdoors remains critical.
For information on statewide current closures and available services, please visit parks.ca.gov/FlattenTheCurve.
As a reminder, Californians are encouraged to avoid road trips and stay close to home, maintain physical distancing, wear a face covering when a physical distance of six feet cannot be maintained from others, and avoid congregating. Everyone has the responsibility to slow down the spread of COVID-19.
Here are some additional guidelines for locals visiting Sonoma State Historic Park:
What is open now?
- Casa Grande and Vallejo Home parking lots.
- Trails and bike path.
- Courtyard, restrooms, and gift shop of the Sonoma Barracks (Thursday-Monday).
- Vallejo Home grounds (outdoors) and adjacent picnic area.
What is currently closed?
- Mission San Francisco Solano (inside and outside).
- Barracks rooms on 1st floor, including the soldiers sleeping quarters, Bear flag room, and theater. Access to the 2nd floor of the Barracks balcony is also closed.
- Vallejo Home and Swiss Chalet.
- Visitor center and tours.
Are there any new visitor guidelines?
Yes, please see below:
- Stay Safer at 6 Feet: No matter the recreational activity, maintain a physical distance of 6 feet or more. No more than three households in a group is permitted. Mixing between group gatherings, large gatherings or parties is not allowed. Visitors are being asked to leave if there are too many people to allow for the required physical distance.
- Stay Clean: Be prepared. Bring soap/sanitizer and pack out all trash. Restrooms will be temporarily closed in order to keep up with cleaning schedules.
- Stay Covered: The state now requires you to wear a face covering in most indoor settings and public outdoor spaces when you cannot maintain physical distancing of six feet or more. For details, please visit CDPH’s guidance here. Visitors should also abide by their local county health orders.
Statewide, California State Parks continues to work with locals on a phased and regionally-driven approach to increase access to state park units where compliance with state and local public health ordinances can be achieved. Even though the department has increased access across the State Park System, the need for Californians to slow the spread of COVID-19 in the outdoors remains critical.
For information on statewide current closures and available services, please visit parks.ca.gov/FlattenTheCurve.
Phone Number
(707) 938-9560
Park Hours
Dogs Allowed?
Yes
Dogs allowed only in historic zone and developed areas. Dogs not allowed in the following areas: trails, dirt roads, backcountry areas, historic buildings, and historic gardens.
Driving Directions to Sonoma SHP
The park's main office address: 363 3rd Street West, Sonoma, California 95476-5632.Online reservations are not available for this park.
Upcoming Park Events
No events scheduled at this moment.
DAY-USE ACTIVITIES & FACILITIES
Historical/Cultural Site
Picnic Areas
Env. Learning/Visitor Center
Exhibits and Programs
Guided Tours
Interpretive Exhibits
Museums
Family Programs
Historical/Cultural Site
Picnic Areas
Env. Learning/Visitor Center
Exhibits and Programs
Guided Tours
Interpretive Exhibits
Museums
Family Programs
OTHER FACILITIES & VISITOR INFORMATION
Parking
Restrooms
Drinking Water Available
Parking
Restrooms
Drinking Water Available
Park Contacts
Administrative Office: 707-769-5652 | Mission San Francisco Solano: 707-938-9560
Vallejo Home: 707-938-9559 | Photo, Film & Special Event Permits: 707-939-6188 sonoma.events@parks.ca.gov
About Sonoma SHP
Unlike most parks with a single plot of land and a continuous boundary, Sonoma State Historic Park is a scattering of historical attractions consisting of six midtown locations near Sonoma's Plaza. Off the Sonoma Plaza are: Mission San Francisco Solano, the Blue Wing Inn, Sonoma Barracks, the Toscano Hotel & Kitchen, and the Servants Quarters (the remains of La Casa Grande). General Vallejo's Home, also called Lachryma Montis, is less than a mile west of the Plaza. It was the estate of General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, Military Commander and Director of Colonization of the Northern Frontier and founder of Pueblo de Sonoma. The headquarters of Vallejo's Petaluma Adobe Rancho is also preserved as a separate unit of the State Park system and can be visited the same day with paid admission to Sonoma State Historic Park.
Facilities
Free Public parking is located behind the Sonoma Barracks off of First Street West. Public restrooms are located in the Sonoma BarracksCourtyard.
The Sonoma Plaza offers a variety of restaurants, shops and the Sonoma Valley Visitor's Bureau. Dogs are not allowed in historic buildings. Dogs on a leash are allowed on the bikepath between the Mission and the Vallejo Home. Collecting or destroying anything in the park, including mushrooms, is prohibited.
Exhibits
The Sonoma Mission houses historical exhibits, an art exhibition, museum chapel and courtyard while the Sonoma Barracks across the street houses additional historic exhibits among several museum rooms along with our association's bookstore and gift shop. The Vallejo Home has furnishings of the Vallejo family, historic and serene gardens, a resevoir and a Visitor Center and Museum in the adjacent "Chalet".
Visitors to the park can also stroll through the streets surrounding the town’s historic central plaza or travel via the city's hike and bike path on the west side.
Seasons/Climate/Recommended clothing
The weather can be changeable; layered clothing is recommended. Hot, dry summers with cool, wet winters.
School Tours and Education
Enroll in the Environmental Studies Program and Environmental Living Program
Attention Fourth Grade Teachers – Sign-up for the 2020/2021 school year for our popular interactive and hands on programming at Sonoma State Historic Park and Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park. Reservation forms are accepted April through July. Your students will remember this interactive park experience for a lifetime!
The Environmental Studies Program (ESP) at Mission San Francisco Solano is a day program where students learn about life at the missions. Emily Walski | (707) 938-9560
The Environmental Living Program (ELP) at the Petaluma Adobe is an overnight program focusing on the Rancho era of California History. Jennifer Hanson | (707) 762-4871
Environmental Studies Program (ESP)
Volunteer in Parks Program
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Curious about volunteer opportunities? Sonoma State Historic Park and Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park are closely related cultural history sites that thrive witih activity through a variety of volunteer roles.
Opportunities exist in docent tours, museum curation, bookstore sales, landscape maintenance, demonstrations, period clothing program and special events. Visit Sonoma Petaluma Parks, Inc. for events to attend and introduce yourself. We want to meet you!
To express your interest in the Volunteers in Parks Program (VIPP) with California State Parks, choose a link below to apply and specify your park of interest. Send application or additional inquiry to the VIPP Coordinator at Sonoma.VIPP@parks.ca.gov.
Docent Conducted Tours
Site |
Day of the Week |
Time |
|
| Sonoma Mission Tours | Friday, Saturday and Sunday | 11am to 3pm | |
| Sonoma Barracks Tours | Saturday and Sunday | 11am to 3pm | |
| Vallejo's Home Tours | Saturday and Sunday | 1pm to 4pm | |
| Toscano Hotel & Kitchen Tours | Saturday and Sunday | 1pm to 4pm |
Private Group Tours are available by reservation in advance through Sonoma Petaluma Parks, Inc. (SPParks)
Private Group Tour Reservation