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Exhibition looks at Plaza’s rich history

On Feb. 1, a new exhibit tracing the history of Sonoma Plaza will open at the Gen. Joseph Hooker House.  An opening reception will be held on Saturday, Feb. 11, with refreshments for guests from 1 to 4 p.m. 

The photos in the exhibit trace the interesting and sometimes surprising modifications that have taken place in the Plaza in its 170-year history. 

One of the first things Gen. Mariano Vallejo did was create the eight-acre Plaza, which was, by Mexican custom, to be the center of the pueblo. The Plaza has played an important part in Sonoma history. It was here that Vallejo chose to live and to use the Plaza itself as a parade ground. 

The men of the Bear Flag Revolt raised their flag here and the United States Army of the Pacific was headquartered on the adjacent streets.

 Later, new fences were installed, and in the early 1900s, a new Plaza began to emerge. A new library building and a new city hall of basalt stone were built. 

When the city celebrated the anniversary of the Bear Flag Revolt with a new monument, 5,000  people came to its unveiling. The Sonoma Valley Woman’s Club bought benches and built a drinking fountain for horses, dogs and people, and the Grinstead Amphitheater was created.

The exhibit, which includes the story of the Plaza with photos, will run through May 30. The Joseph Hooker house is open Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 1 to 4 p.m. at 414 First St. E.