Perhaps one of the things that draws us to museums is that each one is, in a way, a time capsule of its own, and no two are exactly the same, even when they are in the same county. Each region and area has a unique story to tell about its people, culture, and geology.
So when I visited the Lake County Historic Courthouse Museum in Lakeport, I saw some things I’d seen on previous visits, such as Lake County’s first switchboard, when phone calls were literally connected by operators plugging lines together to connect conversations. I smile because seeing it takes me back in time. Now I’m old enough to remember the rotary phone. My home phone number had a whole lot of nines, eights, and the dreaded zero. To add to that, my childhood phone was one of the last to still have a party line in Western Washington. Now, how many of you can say that?
I also take a minute to see the faces of past and present celebrities who frequented Lake County, including the famous singer and my all-time childhood favorite to listen to on vinyl, Tennessee Ernie Ford. Other famous visitors include the hilarious Jimmy Durante, the pride and joy of Lake County–Lillie Langtree, and the famous host of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives–Guy Fieri, who always lends a culinary helping hand when Lake County is in the midst of natural disasters, such as our many wildfires.
And let’s not forget about the Rock Hound Room, full of the various minerals found in Lake County, including the famous ninety-four-carat Lake County diamond. It rests among many other rocks and minerals found in Lake County, all telling stories of the rich geological history that helped shape the lives of our first settlers, the Native Americans. This leads me to what drew me here in the first place: the recent re-opening of the Pomo exhibit on the first floor.
If you’ve ever visited before, you might recall the large tule boat on display. I am happy to tell you, it’s still here for viewing, along with many other new items, all hand-chosen by Lake County’s seven federally recognized tribes. This makes every item not only special but also tells an important story about its significance in the lives of those who first called Lake County home.
For example, there are far more uses for tules than for fishing and boating. Tules had many purposes, including floor mats, skirts, headpieces, diapers, and toys, some of which are on display. But perhaps what our regions’ Native Americans are best known for is their baskets. On display, you will see baskets the size of your fingernail, all the way up to baskets that would take up the space of some tables. Of course, many of these had practical uses for storage and carrying, while others, including decorative ones, were meant to be given as gifts for special events, such as weddings. Many were traded, too. In fact, today, several Pomo baskets can be found in a large collection in Russia, of all places. And when you see them, you will know exactly why they hold so much value; they are truly works of art. And while exploring the many basket displays, I take a minute or two to read about each of the seven tribes, their histories, and what they are doing today.
This visit has one more surprise for me: the storage room is open, and I am invited inside, where even more Native American artifacts are being labeled and catalogued, now in the process of finding their soon-to-be permanent home among our seven Native American tribes. I smile thinking of what a lovely day it will be when each basket and artifact finds its true home.
My time is up, and I am headed to the day’s next obligation. But I can’t help but smile when I think of the recent comedy show I saw on TV when the comedian talked about visiting Europe for the first time with his family and describing it as follows: “Europe is like, the oldest. I mean, everything there is so old.” Of course, he thinks that the United States is less than three hundred years old. And here is where I would disagree with the comedian, because I had just seen many things on display that were much older than anything European settlers brought to this region. No, Lake County is rich in history that dates much further back than our Constitution. And what’s even more profound is that we can call Lake County’s first settlers our neighbors.
So, I will end my story with a thank you. Thank you to all seven tribes for sharing your rich history with us in this recently opened exhibit.
The Lake County Historic Courthouse Museum is full of history and stories, including an ever-rotating display on the second floor. Today, it’s displaying the history of our first Italian settlers and how they made their way to Lake County, and how they still make up a large part of the population in Loch Lomond in the Cobb area. And if you hurry, you will be able to see a photo of Loch Lomond’s one and only Mushroom Joe!
255 N Main St, Lakeport, CA 95453
Phone: (707) 262-4552
