The Proposed Schedule for Exhibits Has Been Announced:

2008

Gold Fever! Exhibit will end on August 3, 2008

Art in the Valley Exhibit: Opens on August 10, 2008; closes on October 5, 2008.

Halloween Exhibit: Opens on October 10, 2008; closes on October 31, 2008. Haunted Museum: October 24, 25 and 31.

Come Home for Holidays Exhibit: Opens on November 5, 2008; closes on January 2, 2009.

2009

Hollywood Comes to Pleasanton Exhibit: January - March 2009.

Civil War Exhibit: April - June 2009.

Horse of Course Exhibit: July to mid-October 2009.

Halloween Exhibit: Mid-October through October 31, 2009.

Come Home for Holidays Exhibit: Open on November 5, 2009; closes in January 2010.

Images of America: Pleasanton, a new photo-filled book in the Images of America series was released on October 19, 2007. It was launched at a very well-attended book-release party at the Museum on Main where wine and desserts were served, and an incredible jazz band from the local high school played. Author Mary-Jo Wainwright, who is donating a portion of her book sales to the Museum, gave a brief talk and signed books.

Books can be purchased at the Museum for $21.75 each, including tax. Proceeds to benefit the Museum on Main and will help provide funds to ensure the preservation of our rich local heritage. You can pre-order your book(s) now! Click here to download a PDF of the order form and send it in today!

Images of America: Pleasanton features 220 historic photos, many previously unpublished, from the archives of the Museum on Main street, home of the Amador-Livermore Valley Historical Society. Photos include Main Street buildings, the race track, Castlewood, farms, pioneer settlers (including the Bernal, Kottinger and Neal families, along with early residents such as Henry Mohr and Joseph Black), parades and other festivities, the county fairgrounds, Hearst's Hacienda del Pozo de Verona, and land grant and other maps.

The book provides brief histories of the Native Americans, Spanish and Mexican settlers and early American pioneers. It highlights the importance of Pleasanton's thriving agricultural past and the development of the town from Mexican land grant to suburban job center in the San Francisco Bay Area. Coverage includes the development of Pleasanton's famous Main Street and how it maintained its historical character. Other important topics are the history of the Pleasanton race track and Alameda County Fair, the residency of Phoebe Apperson Hearst, and the making of early Hollywood movies in Pleasanton.

Author Mary-Jo Wainwright is a history instructor at Imperial Valley College in Imperial, CA and a public historian and consultant specializing in California and local history. She holds a B.A. degree from the University of California, Berkeley; and a M.A. degree from California State University, East Bay.

For information, call 925-462-2766.

The Museum on Main is an ongoing drop-off place for donations for Operation: S.A.M., a non-profit volunteer organization that sends packages to American troops to show support to those deployed all over the world, especially those in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Needed are white cotton tube/crew socks, wash cloths, bug repellant, Tylenol, Baggies (quart & gallon zip lock), sun block, Visine, Tums, small envelopes, AA batteries, CD's, DVD's, hand-held computer games, foot powder, anti-fungal medicated cream, Chapstick, travel-size toothpaste and mouthwash, travel-size games, small word puzzle books, Crystal Light/water flavorings, T-shirts (green, tan sizes M-XL) and letters (please do not seal). Snack foods most requested are protein bars, trail mix, nuts/seeds, jerky and Slim Jims. All items should be small or travel size. A letter of encouragement accompanies all packages sent to the troops.

Operation: S.A.M. currently has a large supply of shampoo, conditioner, paperback books and magazines. Hotel travel-size soap does not travel well, but small containers of liquid body wash and hand sanitizer are good replacements.

Military Chaplains in Iraq and Afghanistan assist in the distribution of the "Comfort Packages" to our troops that receive little or no mail from home.

Cash Donations are gratefully accepted to help pay for postage. Personal checks for postage can be made payable to: Operation: S.A.M., P.O. Box 2992, Livermore, CA 94551.

For more information contact the Museum 925-462-2766 or send an e-mail to Operationsam@comcast.net. You can also visit the website at www.operationsam.org.

For other Pleasanton news, you can visit the website of the Pleasanton Downtown Association at www.pleasantondowntown.net.