Sacramento River delta Historical Society
Community Programs
Six Programs a Year
Don’t miss this opportunity to become part of a vibrant community dedicated to the
exploration and celebration of our shared past.
Each our programs share a unique aspect of regional history, offering a diverse range of topics. Our lecturers are seasoned historians, archeologists, farmers, policy makers,
writers, artists, or amateur sleuths with intriguing stories to share. We encourage
audience participation. Ask questions, share perspectives, and engage in lively
discussions with fellow Delta enthusiasts.
We offer six programs a year – March, April, and May; September, October, and
November.
Our next programs are:
Saturday, March 15, 2-4 pm Ryde Hotel
Carol Jensen – Immigrant and Emigrant Pioneer Contributions
Read and Download the Flyer Here!
“Where y’all from?” is the California greeting from colonization to today. Do you hail from the States: an emigrant? Are you from abroad: an immigrant? Join us and meet the Delta pioneers who changed the world. Those that stayed in California after the Gold Rush looked for “Bottom land” and where better than along the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers. Here agribusiness led the economic boom. Point of Timber farmers helped found the national Grange movement and shipped more grain in the 1870s from Tulare and San Joaquin than from the entire Mississippi Valley. German-Jewish merchants Louis Grunauer, Samuel Lavenson, and Jacob Stern established general stores in Stockton, Walnut Grove, and Rio Vista. British investment and commercial traders sent Delta celery, asparagus, fish and nuts throughout Europe.
One Delta emigrant pioneer was instrumental in changing the name of Lake (Governor) Bigler to Lake Tahoe, its original Indigenous Peoples’ name.
Bio: Carol A. Jensen
Carol has been fascinated with local history since the early 1960s. She is a history
graduate of UC Santa Barbara and delights in discovering and documenting the cultural history of the Delta. Most recently, she serves on the Delta Heritage Area Advisory Committee and provides local history lectures for Los Medaños College.
Join Us for Our Annual Member Dinner & Panel Discussion!
Date: Tuesday May 20, 2025 6 to 9 pm
Location: 14273 River Rd, Walnut Grove, CA 95690
Feature Presentation: The History of Grapes, Wines, and Vineyards in the
Sacramento River Delta
Potluck Dinner – Bring a Dish to Share!
The Sacramento River Delta Historical Society invites you to our annual member
dinner, a special evening of food, conversation, and history. This year, we’ll feature a
fascinating panel discussion on the deep-rooted history of grape growing, winemaking, and vineyards in the Delta region. From early pioneers to modern vintners, we’ll explore how the Delta’s unique climate and soil have shaped generations of winemakers with special guest Mike Dunne –
author of The Signature Wines of Superior California: 50 Wines that Define the Sierra Foothills, the Delta, Yolo and Lodi.
In addition to the panel, this gathering is a great opportunity to meet neighbors, connect with fellow history enthusiasts, and learn more about how you can get involved in preserving and celebrating the Delta’s rich past.
All are welcome – members, friends, and newcomers! Bring a favorite dish to
share and join us for an evening of Delta heritage and community. For questions or to RSVP, contact srdhspresident@gmail.com
We’re now offering year-round programming every other month – so look for updates on a program in July on the Stories of Locke, plus join us at the Courtland Pear Fair, the Walnut Grove or other Delta Library, or Ryde Hotel for special events.
Our Annual Delta Award will be in the fall.
Share Your Stories
Call to make an appointment as someone
is usually staffing the Resource Center every Tuesday from 10 am to noon.
On March 18, April 22, and May 13, from 10 am to noon, we’ll have the coffee pot and conversation going for folks to come by and share a story, take a peek at our holdings, or talk about ways to engage the community. Have photos to share or other items from the Delta? Bring them, too. We’ll provide coffee, tea, and some snacks. And hopefully, a new scanner to digitize your images. Check out our Facebook Group for updates.
Community Engagement
Community engagement is vital because it fosters a sense of connection, shared history, and collective responsibility. By collaborating with organizations like the Courtland Pear Fair, the Annual Archives Crawl, the Sacramento Area History Consortium, the Sacramento History Museum, the Locke Foundation, the Delta Protection Commission, Reveal California, and numerous historical societies and libraries, we expand our programming and create opportunities for meaningful interaction with the public.
Through these partnerships, we not only preserve and celebrate history but also make it relevant to today’s communities. We are especially committed to engaging students and the next generation, ensuring that historical knowledge and appreciation continue to thrive.
Do you have ideas on how we can enhance our outreach and programming? Join us in
our efforts and be part of shaping the future of history in our region! Join us in our efforts.
PROGRAMS