DELTA HERITAGE COURIER December 2019 Serving the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Carquinez Strait  2019 has been an exciting year for Delta heritage, particularly the designation of Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area in March, and we're looking forward to developing the National Heritage Area program and management plan in 2020. More information will be coming over the next few months. We wish you a happy holiday season! 

THE BEACON ON MOUNT DIABLO

At or after sunset on December 7, look south at the top of Mount Diablo for an illuminated beacon light that memorializes the Pearl Harbor attack. A 2018 Community Focus article by the Contra Costa County Historical Society describes the beacon, which has stood on the summit since 1928, and the tradition that has occurred annually since 1964. 

HOLIDAY HERITAGE EVENTS

Benicia Historical Museum's Christmas Tree Lot - through December 23 (or When They Run Out!)

Support the Benicia Historical Society and Genesis House by purchasing a beautiful, sustainably-farmed Christmas tree. Tree buyers get free entry museum passes. The Museum gift shop includes holiday-themed decoration and vintage toys. For more information, visit the Benicia Historical Museum event webpage .

Rio Vista Museum's Olde Tyme Christmas Faire - December 6 through 8

Stroll through the Rio Vista Museum, shop for the perfect, hand-crafted gift from local artisans, and eat baked goodies while enjoying the sights and sounds of Christmas cheer. For details, visit the Olde Tyme Christmas Faire event page .

San Joaquin County Historical Society and Museum's Festival of Trees - December 7 through 8

The Museum’s docents transform the entire Museum into a winter wonderland, with more than 75 decorated trees, a tea and dessert room, entertainment, vendors, and crafts and activities for children! For information on tickets, visit the San Joaquin County Historical Society & Museum homepage .

Western Railway Museum's Santa Train - December 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, & 22

Enjoy a ride on a historic electric railway and visit Santa's Village! A bounce house, activity tables, and refreshments are included. To get tickets, visit the Western Railway Museum Santa Train event page .

Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum's Teddy Bear Tea and Holiday Open House - December 14

Visit the Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum for free holiday fun for the entire family, including delicious treats, Christmas craft making, storytelling, music, and a visit from Saint Nick. For more information, see the Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum Holiday Open House webpage.

Sacramento Historical Society's An Early California Christmas: Dinner & Show - December 17

Join the Sacramento Historical Society for a festive dinner show featuring delicious food, a live performance of holiday readings by the Sacramento Theater Company, and a special visit by Santa Claus. Register by December 14 (seating is limited) at the Sacramento Historical Society event webpage .

Antioch Historical Society's "Humbug!" - December 20 through 24

The Antioch Historical Society Museum will host six performances of a stage adaptation of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol". Tickets will be available at the door. For more information, visit the Humbug! Facebook page .

Vallejo Community Kwanzaa Celebration - December 28

The Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum will host the 19th annual event. For more information, visit the Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum Kwanzaa Celebration page . 

EXHIBITIONS, EVENTS, AND UPDATES

FANHS Museum Seeking Volunteers

You can help spread word of Filipino American history and the importance of Filipino Americans in US history by volunteering at the Filipino American National Historical Society Museum in Stockton. Weekends are a high priority. Contact Terri Torres at stocktonfanhs@aol.com or leave a message at the FANHS Museum at 209.932.9037 if you are interested.

Afternoon at the FANHS Museum - December 15

Luna Jamero will be speaking on "The Far West Filipino Peoples Movement vs. President Marcos' Martial Law in 1972". RSVP by December 12. For more information on the Afternoon at the Museum series, visit the Filipino American National Historical Society Museum website .

Olympian Eddie Hart Featured Speaker at Contra Costa County Historical Society Event - January 11

Delta and Carquinez Strait native and Olympic gold medalist Eddie Hart will be the featured speaker at the Contra Costa County Historical Society's Annual Membership Meeting & Holiday Luncheon on Saturday, January 11 at the Alamo Women's Club. RSVPs are requested by January 3. For more information, visit the Contra Costa County Historical Society website .

Delta Community Design Workshop - January 11

The Delta Protection Commission is hosting a full-day Delta Community Design Workshop at Jean Harvie Community Center in Walnut Grove on Saturday, January 11. The workshop is applicable to Delta communities along the Sacramento River, but will focus specifically on those communities with more established “Main Streets” and historic resources. For more information, please contact Blake Roberts at blake.roberts@delta.ca.gov . 

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Have a vision? Check out these funding opportunities! Creating special places in our towns and cities can be a difficult and daunting task. Grants are an excellent resource and we have done some of the legwork for you! See below for available opportunities. 

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE (NPS) Save America's Treasures Grants Save America’s Treasures grants support the preservation and/or conservation assistance to nationally significant historic properties and collections. The grant deadline is December 10, 2019. Visit the Saving America's Treasures Grants webpage for more details.

Underrepresented Community Grants NPS is accepting applications from State Historic Preservation Offices, Tribal Historic Preservation Offices, Federally Recognized Tribes, and Certified Local Governments for projects that help diversify the nominations submitted to the National Register of Historic Places. Applications are due on December 17, 2019. For more information, visit the Underrepresented Community Grants webpage .

NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections The Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections program helps cultural institutions by supporting sustainable conservation measures that mitigate deterioration, prolong the useful life of collections, and support institutional resilience. The grant deadline is January 30, 2020. For more information, please visit the National Endowment of Humanities website .

CALIFORNIA HUMANITIES Humanities for All Grants The Humanities For All Grant supports locally-initiated public humanities projects, such as interpretive exhibits, community dialogue and discussion series, workshops and participatory activities, presentations and lectures, conversations and forums, and interactive and experiential activities. The next deadline is February 3, 2020. For more information visit the California Humanities website .

CALIFORNIA STATE LIBRARY California Civil Liberties Program This grant program supports the creation and dissemination of educational and public awareness resources concerning the history and the lessons of civil rights violations or civil liberties injustices carried out against communities or populations. The grant deadline is February 24, 2020. For more details, visit the California State Library website .

OTHER FUNDING Asphalt Art Initiative Bloomberg Philanthropies' has launched a grant program for small and mid-sized cities (populations of 30,000-500,000) for up to $25,000 to implement arts-driven transportation projects. The deadline is December 12, 2019. For more information, visit the Bloomberg Philanthropies website .

Irvin Henderson Main Street Revitalization Fund The National Trust Community Investment Corporation, a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, provides up to $2 million in tax credit financing for transformational historic rehabilitation projects in low-income Main Street communities. For more details, visit the National Trust Community Investment Corporation website . 

Please contact us with updates or if you want to follow up on newsletter items by emailing Blake Roberts at blake.roberts@delta.ca.gov . STAY CONNECTED ‌ ‌