Mission projects on display at the Sonoma Barracks

Residents, parents and visitors are encouraged to see the culmination of a year’s study of California history by Sonoma Valley’s young scholars. The exhibits will be on display in the Sonoma barracks theater room on the Plaza through the Memorial Day Weekend.

The displays represent the work of 350 student historians from Sonoma Valley’s public and parochial schools. The Barracks is located at the corner of East Spain Street and First Street East.

California history is a mainstay in the curriculum of fourth-grade students across the state. Annually, hundreds of students, teachers and parents arrive on field trips to explore the Sonoma Mission, the Barracks, Gen. Vallejo’s home, the Petaluma adobe, and the Toscano Hotel. Docents explain the histories of pre-colonial Native-Americans as well as those of later settlers in the Spanish, Mexican and American epochs.

The Sonoma/Petaluma State Parks Association sponsors the annual student exhibit program through classroom stipends for student art materials.

Coordinating the students projects this year were Sonoma Valley teachers Dave Kohnhorst, Corey Decker (El Verano), Mary Kearney (St. Francis Solano), Nadine Harmon (Sonoma Charter), Maggie Pat (Sassarini), Sarah Stone (Presentation), Lydia Calderon and Gregg Campbell (Flowery), Peggy McClure, Gary Griffith and Katie Grimes (Prestwood).

Entrance to the exhibits is free of charge. The room is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week.