The Heritage Center
St. Helena Historical Society celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2022. For more than 20 years, we’ve been collecting, curating, and interpreting a wide array of photographs, news clippings and artifacts that document the St. Helena area’s history.
In 2021, we opened our Heritage Center
The Heritage Center is the home for all of these artifacts. It is located in a newly leased and renovated space in the former Catholic Elementary School at 1255 Oak Avenue. Our new Heritage Center houses office and collection storage space, exhibit rooms, and a community lecture room where we host our popular lectures and other events. This is our place to preserve, document and exhibit local history.
We’ve been bringing history to life since 2002
From the ancient settlements of the first Native Americans to the present day. We’re sharing stories that help our community understand the cultural and historical evolution of the St. Helena area. Each immigrant diaspora contributed to the culture we know today.
What: The Heritage Center
When: We’re open the first Saturday of the month from noon to 4:00pm.
Where: 1255 Oak Avenue, St. Helena, 94574
In the mid-1800s immigrants to the St. Helena area began planting European grape varietals and producing wine commercially. Immigrants continued to arrive from France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, and Switzerland, drawn by an ideal terroir for growing grapes. They laid the foundations for what has become the Valley’s renowned wine industry. In 1858, Charles Krug made Napa Valley's first commercial wine for John Patchett using a small cider press.
We're representing generations of St. Helena's families
Many of our donations come from families who have lived in St. Helena for generations. They bring in old photographs, Star clippings, tools and clothing that tell more stories.
- Of times when farmers grew prunes instead of grapes.
- When there were four auto-supply stores on Main Street.
- When there really was a Wonderful Drug Store.
- Or read about what was going on in town when the first Star hit the streets 150 years ago.
If we lose our connection to our diverse past, we forfeit the chance to understand its lessons for our future.
What: The Heritage Center
When: We’re open every Saturday from noon to 4:00pm
Where: 1255 Oak Avenue, St. Helena, 94574