HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN NAPA, CALIFORNIA Kara Lynn Brunzell B.A., University of California, Los Angeles, 1988 PROJECT Submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS in HISTORY (Public History) at CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, SACRAMENTO FALL 2009 HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN NAPA, CALIFORNIA A Project by Kara Lynn Brunzell Approved by: __________________________________, Committee Chair Dr. Lee Simpson __________________________________, Second Reader Dr. Patrick Ettinger ____________________________ Date ii Student: Kara Lynn Brunzell I certify that this student has met the requirements for format contained in the University format manual, and that this project is suitable for shelving in the Library and credit is to be awarded for the Project. __________________________, Department Chair ________________ Dr. Christopher Castaneda Date Department of History iii Abstract of HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN NAPA, CALIFORNIA by Kara Lynn Brunzell Statement of Problem How do historic preservation activities in Napa, California relate to the theory and practice of preservation? How does Napa’s history fit into broader themes of history, and how does Napa’s historic architecture illustrate that history. Sources of Data Data sources include the printed and online literature of historic preservation, urban history, local history, and cultural resource management. The student also consulted works of local and state history, historic resource surveys and other local planning documents, and documented her experience as an intern for the City of Napa. Conclusions Reached Napa’s history and historic preservation efforts reflect broader themes of history and the evolving historic preservation movement. Emerging areas of preservation, such as historic landscapes and heritage tourism, will gain importance in Napa’s future. _______________________, Committee Chair Dr. Lee Simpson _______________________ Date iv DEDICATION To my eminently patient family, who supported and encouraged me over the last three years. They deserve no less than my permanent retirement from academic pursuits as a reward for their heroic efforts. v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to all those who made this project possible. My family, Alice, Nora, Simone, Ynez, and Phil Barber, provided incalculable quantities of love, encouragement, and humor. Their support enabled me to juggle the commute, coursework, and internships required by the CSUS Public History Program. Our chaotic household was the perfect antidote for long hours of research and thesis-writing. Thank you for all your kindness and help, and for letting me monopolize the computer. My brother, David Brunzell, has been not only a source of encouragement, but an always- available information resource. Several CSUS professors contributed significantly to the knowledge and skills I built in the Public History program. Marie Nelson introduced me to historic preservation. Rand Herbert and Greg King helped me get started in Cultural Resource Management. Mona Siegel honed my writing and critical thinking. Charles Roberts and Shirley Moore encouraged me to think about history from the perspective of the dispossessed. Charles Postel provided a challenging perspective on American history. Several people in Napa also assisted me greatly. Marlene Demery, Planning Director at the City of Napa, brought me on staff to work on the local preservation program. Her high expectations allowed me to stretch my wings in this internship. I was able gain precious preservation experience by working with the Cultural Heritage Commission, writing grant applications, and assisting with surveys. The volunteer members of the vi Cultural Heritage Commission have also provided me with invaluable encouragement, technical advice, knowledge of local history, and practical help. And city staff, of course, made it all possible with their administrative support. Lee Simpson provided fundamental direction for this project, pointing me towards crucial readings and refining the scope of my research. She has generously (and quickly) responded to all my questions, and her edits and commentary were helpful. My advisor, Patrick Ettinger, has guided my path through this program with wisdom as well as wit. I would certainly not have met the fall deadline without his gentle pressure. It was he who goaded me “off the couch” in early October, insisting that I could write this paper in three weeks if I set my mind to it. His kind words, positive attitude, and incisive thinking have spurred me to improve my own thinking and writing both on this project and during the course of the Public History program. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Dedication ............................................................................................................................v Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................ vi Chapter 1. HISTORIC PRESERVATION: THEORY AND PRACTICE ...................................1 Introduction ...........................................................................................................1 Early Preservation Efforts in the United States ....................................................1 The Birth of the Historic District ..........................................................................5 Federal Government Involvement ........................................................................7 The National Historic Preservation Act ..............................................................10 Post-NHPA Preservation ....................................................................................13 Legal Precedent ...................................................................................................15 Preservation After 1980 ......................................................................................16 Landscape, Rural, and Small-Town Preservation ...............................................16 2. HISTORY OF NAPA, CALIFORNIA .....................................................................21 Origins.................................................................................................................21 The Mexican Period ............................................................................................22 American Settlement – Gold Rush .....................................................................22 American Settlement – Agricultural Development .............................................25 viii American Consolidation and Prosperity .............................................................26 Early Twentieth Century .....................................................................................31 Prohibition and Depression .................................................................................34 World War II and the Modern Era ......................................................................36 3. REDEVELOPMENT AND PRESERVATION IN NAPA, CALIFORNIA ............41 The Redevelopment Era ......................................................................................41 1980 to the Present ..............................................................................................44 The Formation of Preservation Non-Profits in Napa ..........................................47 The Formation of the Cultural Heritage Commission ........................................50 Preservation Awareness in Napa ........................................................................54 Historic Context Survey ......................................................................................56 Historic Homes Workshops ................................................................................60 California Preservation Foundation Conference .................................................62 The Future of Preservation in Napa ....................................................................63 Conclusion ..........................................................................................................64 Appendix A. Grant Application, 2009 .............................................................................70 Appendix B. Publicity Material for Historic Homes Workshop.....................................77 Appendix C. Historic Homes Workshop Schedule .........................................................79 Appendix D. Historic Landscapes PowerPoint Presentation ..........................................81 Appendix E. Grant Application, 2010 ............................................................................92 Bibliography ....................................................................................................................100 ix 1 Chapter 1 HISTORIC PRESERVATION: THEORY AND PRACTICE Introduction Though commemoration and public remembrance of history have been elements of American culture since the early colonial era, historic preservation as it is understood today is a relatively recent phenomenon. American preservation, restoration, and reconstruction of old buildings did not begin in earnest until the nineteenth century. The climate of patriotic nationalism that developed after the Revolutionary War led Americans to attempt to preserve sites associated with the heroes of the Revolution. Since that era, historic preservation has morphed and spread into a much broader endeavor, one that would scarcely be recognizable to the first American preservationists. One