Our Mission

Our mission is to collect, preserve, exhibit, interpret, and provide access to the history of the St. Helena area — from the ancient settlements of the first Native Americans to the present day.

Who We Are

The St. Helena Historical Society was founded in 2002 by a small group of local citizens led by former library director Larry Hlavsa. From thousands of historic photographs to oral histories recorded with longtime residents, we maintain a growing archive that documents life in the upper Napa Valley from the mid-1800s to the present day.

Since our founding we have grown from a handful of dedicated volunteers into a community institution, adding new oral histories each year, expanding the photo archive, and deepening our documentation of the valley’s Chinese, Wappo, agricultural, and wine-country heritage.

What We Do

We operate the Heritage Center, open First Saturday of each month, 12–4 p.m. We maintain one of the region’s most significant photographic archives. We record oral histories, lead walking tours, host lectures, and publish research on the people and places that shaped St. Helena.

Our lecture series brings scholars, authors, and longtime residents to the Heritage Center throughout the year. Our Cemetery Discovery Walk each October has become one of St. Helena’s most beloved annual events, with student actors from St. Helena High School bringing pioneer stories to life. Our oral history program has preserved the voices of more than 60 residents — conversations that would otherwise be lost.

Our Vision

A community that knows where it came from — and carries that knowledge forward with pride, curiosity, and purpose.

The St. Helena Historical Society is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (Federal Tax ID 30-0087096). Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.