The Museum on Main has two main exhibit rooms. The Phoebe Hearst Room houses the rotating exhibits. The Local History Room houses the permanent exhibit about Pleasanton.

Pleasanton: Change vs. the Desire for Continuity

The History of the Area from Prehistoric Times through Modern-Day

Pleasanton's story is one of change. Sociologists have shown that change typically involves resistance, accommodation and adaptation, a process that seems to be universal across both time and space. Almost all change, even that labeled "good," is usually met with some degree of fear and trepidation. As resistance proves futile, people begin to make accommodations to the new environment but continue to pine for the old ways and hope for their return. Eventually accommodation gives way to acceptance and the change is seen, whether welcome or not, as the norm.

This process — common to almost all living beings — can be demonstrated in the history of the city of Pleasanton. By studying how others have reacted to and acted upon the change process, we hope that visitors will better understand the stresses encountered and paths chosen by others, develop an appreciation for the universality of the change process, and apply the lessons of change to their own lived experience.

With this exhibit, located in the Local History room, you can explore the changes that impacted the town and its surrounding neighbors. Through our hands-on exhibits, artifacts, images and treasures, discover the unique journey that has made the Tri-Valley a snapshot of the early days of California, and Pleasanton "The City of Planned Progress."

The theme of this exhibit is change versus the desire for continuity.

	The natural history of Pleasanton
	The Ohlone Indians
	The Spanish/Mexican era
	Pleasanton's founding families
	The impact of the railroad
	Phoebe Apperson Hearst and the Victorian period
	The transition of Pleasanton from a small rural community to the suburban and commercial center that it is today

The objective of this exhibit is to present the history of Pleasanton in a chronological order based on verifiable data. We believe that it is important that the information we present is historically accurate and tells the story of our community in an easily understandable fashion.

It is the goal of the Amador-Livermore Valley Historical Society to continually upgrade the exhibit so that it will be more interactive for visitors. We will be coming forth with a future capital campaign in order to accomplish this goal.