Arts & Entertainment

Sonoma Valley Muse

This annual gala benefits the Sonoma Community Center and this year will honor pioneer and patriarch Nicholas Carriger. Guests are encouraged to dress up for the event in their finest 1880's garb.

Return to Valley of the Moon’s wild west days as we celebrate the life of a Sonoma pioneer on the grounds of his original homestead. Sonoma Community Center’s 2011 Sonoma Valley Muse Auction and Gala is sure to be one of the best events of the year!

Nicholas Carriger, an ambitious 19th century pioneer and patriarch of Sonoma Valley, left Missouri at the age of 30 with his family and set off for California, destination: Sonoma. On his journey, he wrote of traveling over “distressingly bad mountain roads hauling covered wagons with 32 yoke of oxen at the bottom and 25 at the top.” Upon arrival from their arduous cross country trip (losing his father and welcoming a newborn daughter who survived 3 months) Gen. Vallejo greeted them, brought supplies and offered to sell them a parcel of land.

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As the whole world was set with the news of gold in California, Carriger traveled to Auburn where he struck gold. With his new found wealth, he purchased approximately 1,000 acres of land from Gen. Vallejo for $4,000 in Gold Dust...the first seen in Sonoma Valley.

Dress in denim, dripping in Gold!

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