Welcome to the Clayton Historical Society and Museum’s website!

The Clayton Historical Society was founded in 1974 to “research, collect, record, preserve, display, borrow, share, and interpret local history information and memorabilia, and to promote understanding of Clayton origins and development.”

July Events: Parade, BBQ, Memorial Dinner

The Museum will also be open for 4th of July weekend hours: Sunday, July 3rd from 2-4pm

Be sure to also join the community at Clayton’s Annual 4th of July Parade occurring at 10am on Main Street, Clayton

The 11th Annual Clayton CBCA BBQ Cook-Off is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, July 9-10, 2022, in Downtown Clayton. The Museum will also be open during the BBQ Cook-Off on both Saturday and Sunday from 2-4 p.m.

The event will be starting with a special, private BBQ Dinner honoring Rory Richmond, at Endeavor Hall in Clayton, from 5 to 7 PM on July 8th. Rory was a former Clayton Historical Society board member and chaired the BBQ Cook-Off for many years, growing it from a small event held behind the Clayton Club into a much larger, nationally-sanctioned event. Rory passed away on August 22, 2020 and this will be the first Clayton CBCA BBQ Cook-Off since Rory’s passing. As a result, we thought it would be appropriate to honor Rory with this Memorial Dinner.

If you are unable to attend the Memorial Dinner, we also have opportunities to purchase a personalized Memorial Paver for the new downtown, Rory Richmond Memorial Garden on Main Street.

New Exhibit: Clayton Farms!

Museum Gift Shop

Check out what we sell at the Museum’s Gift Shop online. All items can be purchased online and picked up at the Museum or delivered to your door in the Clayton Valley area. Shop Now

Clayton Chronicles: Spring 2022 Edition

Check Out the Society’s YouTube Channel

We are pleased to announced the Clayton Historical Society YouTube Channel, featuring a variety of videos on Clayton history, meetings past and present, and other interesting tidbits. We strive to digitize more of our collections as we preserve and promote Clayton’s history — especially during this time.

1964 Tour of Clayton

Wanting to learn and see more about the history of Clayton? Checkout this 1964 Tour of Clayton, CA by former Society President Dick Ellis and friend of the Museum, Bob Daugherty. While the population was only 1023 people, the town’s distinct features remain recognizable today. A blast from the past, indeed!