Current Exhibits

Joel Clayton and the Gold Rush

During the California gold rush, Joel Clayton, the founder of the town of Clayton, traveled widely throughout California. The Clayton Historical Society Museum’s new exhibit, Joel Clayton and the Gold Rush, lets visitors discover through his eyes what it was like to live in 1850s California. Unlike most California immigrants, Joel Clayton didn’t come to mine gold. He knew that the best way to get rich was to sell supplies to the miners. As an ambitious man, Joel Clayton often wrote letters, advertisements, and articles for the local newspapers in order to further his own businesses and political career. These detailed accounts let us hear in Joel Clayton’s own words his thoughts, opinions, and life experiences. Unlike most founding fathers, Joel Clayton is much more interesting to us today because although he was bold, persuasive, and smart, he was also a bit of a scoundrel. So, come visit Joel Clayton and the Gold Rush for a colorful look at what 1850s California life was really like from the point of view of those who actually lived it. Presented by Nancy Neimeyer

Prior Exhibits

Clayton’s General Store

From the mid-1860s through 1900, Clayton pioneer Charles Rhine ran a general store that not only sold a wide variety of goods but was also the local civic center and post office. The Clayton Historical Society Museum’s new exhibit, Clayton’s General Store, lets visitors discover what it was like to shop, gossip, and socialize at the Rhine store where just about everything customers needed could be found all in one place. Being Clayton’s community center, the store was the place where residents gathered to catch up on the latest news, politics, events, and tall tales. It served as Clayton’s bulletin board where notices, legal documents, announcements, and other information could be viewed by the public. When the locals got together for a chat on the store’s porch or around its wood-burning stove, the result was the formation of many of Clayton clubs, celebrations, political rallies, sports teams, and civic projects. So, go back in time and visit Clayton’s General Store for a colorful look at the products and services offered by Charles Rhine’s store. 

Clayton Valley Area Photographs & Artwork

Life in Clayton 1850-1870

When U. S. history classes talk about the 1850s and 1860s, they only cover major events such as the Civil War, California gold rush, and first transcontinental railroad. They never mention the fun stuff like what day-to-day life was like for the average citizen. Let the Clayton Historical Society’s new exhibit, Life in Clayton 1850-1870, take you back in time to see how ordinary Clayton residents lived, worked, played, dressed, cooked, and celebrated. Along the way the exhibit tells many stories about Clayton such as the wedding scam, cream ale brewery, arson insurance fraud, “Electro-Magnetic” doctor, copper mining boom, hotel gong, and the 1864 fire that destroyed the town. Once you see the exhibit, you’ll feel closer to the past and have a greater appreciation for the modern conveniences we take for granted. 

Clayton Farms

These days, most people don’t really understand how food is grown, much less how farming has shaped our local history since 1852. The Clayton Historical Society Museum’s new exhibit, Clayton Farms, tells the story of our local farmers. Find out: what crops could be grown here without summer rain; why Clayton vineyards were destroyed in the 1900s and 1920s; how wine was made in the 19^th century; who bought most of Clayton’s fresh fruit and vegetables; why farming machinery changed from horsepower to gasoline power; how Clayton farmers helped the war effort during World Wars I and II; and much more.