The St. Helena Historical Society’s Heritage Center, located at 1255 Oak Avenue, displays carefully curated artifacts from St. Helena’s past.
The area history begins with the native people, the Wappos, who date back some 10,000 years. A massive immigration wave between 1850-1950 brought people from around the globe fleeing poverty and oppression. Many came for the Gold Rush. Failing to make their fortunes, they remained. They brought their skills from their homelands and together they began developing a society.
The mission of the St. Helena Historical Society is to collect, preserve, exhibit and provide access to St. Helena’s past. The organization hosts free lectures and programs throughout the year that highlight a wide range of topics.
Their collection area roughly follows the boundaries of the St. Helena School District, which stretches north to Bale Lane and south to the edge of Yountville. The area also includes Pope Valley, Deer Park, and Angwin. You can even explore St. Helena with the Historical Society’s digital historic walking tour!
The St. Helena Historical Society is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2002 by a small group of local citizens led by former library director Larry Hlavsa.
