The Novato Historical Guild

05/31/2026

THE EARLY AND QUIRKY HAMILTON.
Saturday June 27, 2026

Meet at the Hamilton Field History Museum by 9:00AM.

From 9-10AM there will be a power point presentation inside the Hamilton Field History Museum. After the talk, from 10-11:30AM there will be a 2-mile walk (with a one-mile option) to view the former base’s historical sites. The walk is mostly flat with one short steep hill near the end.

Learn about the early history of Hamilton including: how an Italian chef named Salvatore helped get Marin an air base; how different animals outsmarted the base commander, repeatedly; which Native-American base commander had a song written for him in his native Osage that is still performed in his honor; why a Lt. General and a Lt. Col. each chose to put female pilots in charge of ferrying different aircraft; what Abbot and Costello and the Dalai Lama have to do with the base, and much more.

The event is open to all, with a suggested $10 donation. You may attend the talk, the walk, or both. Please bring water, hat, and sunscreen for the walk. No registration required.

The Hamilton Field History Museum, is open to the public on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from Noon to 4PM.

Speaker and Tour Guide: Kate Johnston, Hamilton Field History Museum Docent.

05/31/2026

Reusing the buildings at Hamilton Field properly

04/18/2026

Marin History Museum will hold its first Marin Community History Day on Saturday, May 2, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Boyd Gate House in San Rafael. The free, family‑friendly event brings together fifteen historical organizations with interactive displays, hands‑on heritage crafts, bilingual tours of the Rancho Roots exhibit, and a Mexican food truck to round out the afternoon. It’s designed as an easy, welcoming way for the community to explore Marin’s history together.

04/14/2026

Please sign up and attend.

⏰ Purchase Tickets Now!
🎙️ Gil Rud - A Blue Angel’s Journey
🗓️ April 23, 7pm
🎟️ $15 Student | $30 General Admission
✈️ https://www.novatospeakerseries.com
🗺️ Bill and Adele Jonas Center

03/28/2026

Some early changes for Novato, with the railroad being added.

03/25/2026

The Novato Historical Guild held its Spring Quarterly Meeting on March 14, 2026, at Novato City Hall, drawing a standing‑room‑only crowd. In addition to updates on the Museum Relocation Project, attendees were treated to a compelling presentation by author and former San Francisco Police homicide inspector Frank Falzon.

A longtime Novato resident, Falzon—and his wife Donna, a well‑known local realtor—captured the audience’s attention with stories from some of the most significant cases of his career, including the hunt for the “Night Stalker.” He balanced these intense accounts with warm reflections on raising a family in Novato, one of the safest communities in the Bay Area.

Membership in the Guild offers access to fascinating programs like this at each of our quarterly meetings. If you’re not already a member, we invite you to join and be part of preserving and celebrating Novato’s history.

03/23/2026

Hamilton Field First Day Issue

Airmail Week Flashback, 1938. Airline travel was not yet widely accepted, but financially struggling airline companies were making progress. President Franklin Roosevelt and Postmaster General James Farley created a national public relations campaign to generate wider usage of airmail, which in turn would help the airline industry. They declared May 15-21, 1938, as National Airmail Week. The goal was to encourage citizens to send mail by air. When the program ended, it was deemed a success. And it stimulated interest--many folks were willing to shell out an additional three cents to send an air letter. It was a small stamp from the post office but a giant leap in aviation history.

03/05/2026

Please attend this week's meeting.

02/26/2026

We have our four in Novato, but here are all of the museums in Marin.

February 23-28th is Museum Advocacy Week and we can’t think of a better way to support Museums than by visiting them! Here is a list of Marin’s East Side History Museums. Pick a number and go explore your history! 1. Olompali State Historical Park
2. Museum of the American Indian
3. Novato History Museum
4. Hamilton Field History Museum
5. China Camp Village
6. Museum of International Propaganda
7. Marin History Museum
8. San Anselmo Historical Museum
9. Marin Museum of Bicycling
10. San Quentin Museum
11. Lucretia Little History Room
12. Sausalito Ice House Museum
13. Railroad & Ferry Depot Museum.