The Museum Store - Books

A brand new book titled San Ramon Valley is now available in the museum store for $21. Not only does this area have historical depth, but its natural landscapes reach just as far. In this 128 page book with over 200 black and white photographs, the authors have capitalized on the reason this area is what it is today: its past. With images of Mount Diablo, the American Indians, gold rush pioneers, schools, parks, roadways, landmarks, the everyday people, and much more, you do not want to miss this unique compilation of photos, historical accounts, and personal stories.

Beverly Lane, curator of the Museum of San Ramon Valley, and photographer and docent Ralph Cozine, have compiled this amazing collection of images depicting Danville, Alamo, San Ramon, Diablo, Blackhawk, and Tassajara Valley. Among the sights in this volume are early schools, the electric railway between Alamo and Danville, the first fire district volunteers, and the incorporation of Danville and San Ramon in the early 1980’s. Together these images tell how this unique urban edge of the East Bay came to be.

Rose Peters Emery's book Footprints in the Soil tells of life growing up on a San Ramon Valley ranch as a first generation Portuguese-American female. This 97 year old lady used her amazing memory to tell this nostalgic story of her family's life. This book is available in the Museum store for $14.

Museum Curator Emeritus Irma M. Dotson's two books on railroading in the San Ramon Valley are featured in the Store. Danville Branch of the Oakland Antioch & Eastern Railway, a soft back, is $30. It details the background and 10-year life of the electric train line that ran through Danville and on to Diablo. San Ramon Branch Line of the Southern Pacific, $54, is a beautiful hardback book that tells the story of how the rail line that now is the Iron Horse trail came to be and its importance in the Valley's history.

Another Museum publication offered is In the Shadow of the Mountain, a $3 booklet about Valley history based on the Museum's permanent exhibits. It is recommended as a souvenir remembrance of a Museum visit.

Other books for sale include those of local historian Virgie Jones, including her latest, Remembering Alamo. Gary Bogue's book The Raccoon Next Door is available.