We enjoy revisiting some places from our travels and Calistoga is one such spot. The first American settlers began arriving in the 1840s, with several taking up lands in the Calistoga area. Samuel Brannan was the leader of a settlement expedition on the ship Brooklyn landing in Yerba Buena (what would become San Francisco) in 1846.

Sam Brannan purchased 2000 acres in 1885 to develop a spa reminiscent of Saratoga, New York. His resort opened to California’s rich and famous in 1862. With the completion of the railroad in 1868, Calistoga became not only a destination but the transportation hub for the upper Napa Valley.
To learn even more about this historic area, we revisited the Sharpsteen Museum, a must-see destination created by Walt Disney animator and producer, Ben Sharpsteen. This award-winning museum features dioramas, artifacts, antiques and exhibits designed by Ben and his team of highly creative artists dedicated to making history fun and educational for adults and children alike.
"Explore the artistry and vision that Ben Sharpsteen and his many talented designers put into this incredible museum. Paintings on every wall and around every corner feel like you could walk right into the scenes of yesterday. See an actual light table used by Ben to create Disney animation page by page. Don’t miss a ‘real Oscar’, one of 11 won by Ben during his 30-years with Disney. Ben’s creative talent is everywhere!"
When Ben Sharpsteen joined The Walt Disney Studios in 1929, he quickly became Walt’s right-hand man for animated and live-action film production. As Walt once wrote, “Concerning Ben Sharpsteen and his contributions to the development of the Disney organization, I want to say he played a very important part.”

 Kendall “Ken” O’Connor, a Disney layout artist and art director, helped create the extensive, highly detailed yet whimsical 30-foot diorama known world-wide, which offers a glimpse of 1860s Calistoga and its Hot Springs Resort developed by Sam Brannan, California's first millionaire and the founder of Calistoga. So dang cool.

I found this display about Lovina Graves and John Cyrus very interesting. Both of them were survivors of the Donner Party and this was John's trunk of treasures. After her rescue, Lovina attended school in San Jose, but spent her adult life in Calistoga. Her husband, John Cyrus, was also a veteran of Hastings Cutoff. According to a story passed down in his family, the Cyruses crossed the summit just ahead of the Donner Party.
All the other museum treasures delighted and informed.




Our last of our history lesson occured as we walked into an authentic Sam Brannan Cottage. One of three surviving cottages from the original Hot Springs Resort, this historic landmark (#675) was moved and fully restored and now adjoins the museum as a permanent exhibit. Inside are authentic vintage furnishings as they would have been seen in Napa Valley parlors and homes of the late 1800s.
I will never tire of the intrigue of a hair wreath. As family members died, hair was saved in a “hair receiver.” When enough was accumulated, the hair was fashioned into flowers and leaves by twisting and sewing it around shaped wire forms. So dang weird and cool, simultaneously.
We had to explore this place just due to its vintage vibe. Serving customers for over 62 years, Dr. Wilkinson's Hot Springs Resort is a wine country icon. Dr. Wilkinson's was founded in 1952 by John "Doc" and Edy Wilkinson. Doc was interested in alternative health and relaxation from the days of his early childhood in the San Joaquin Valley of California. He studied chiropractic, visited Calistoga, and fell in love with the healing qualities that Calistoga's natural assets provided. Since Doc and Edy Wilkinson opened the resort, the Wilkinson family has continued to upgrade, without risking the genuine and real qualities of their original vision. Although both founders have passed away, their children Carolynne and Mark continue to maintain the unique quality traditions of their parents and have been co-managers of the resort for over 35 years. Next time we'll plan to stay and frolic in the mud baths... just to see what all this Calistoga hubbub is about.
This was our Santa Rosa home for three nights. It was a perfect spot from which to visit family and explore the environs.