NEWS & FEATURES
Commission Approves National Heritage Area Management Plan
The Delta Protection Commission approved a draft of the management plan for the Delta National Heritage Area on March 7 to submit to the Secretary of the Interior.
“There’s no place in the world like the Delta, with its unique geology, ecology, and history,” said Commission Chair Diane Burgis.
“The Management Plan is our roadmap for how we talk about our history and how different agencies and community groups throughout the Delta’s five counties can work together to celebrate our shared heritage."
The plan was submitted to the Interior Department on March 12 for a review that could take six months. Once approved, implementation of the NHA can begin.
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Women of the Delta: Hidden No More
The role women have played in Delta history has been somewhat invisible, said Maryellen Burns, president of the Sacramento River Delta Historical Society: "They're the ones who did the interviews, they're the ones who transcribed them, but the people they interviewed were men."
The Society took steps to remedy that Tuesday with its program, "Hidden Figures - Women of the Delta," at the Walnut Grove Library. The program highlighted four historical Delta figures: Jean Harvie, Charmian London, Aoifee McCarthy, and Connie King.
Their tales include a "red light" boat, a toilet garden, a hotwired car, and one woman's transcendent first peach.
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Asian American Heritage Park Breaks Ground
Supporters broke ground March 2 on the Asian American Heritage Park in Isleton.
The park, located at 25 Main St., will honor the families of Chinese and Japanese ancestry who once lived on Main Street.
Interpretative panels will explore racial prejudice, hardship, and courage the Chinese and Japanese experienced in their quest to become Americans.
The park will have a Kansho-do (temple bell), with the Walnut Grove Buddhist Church bell hanging in the center to create a place of peace and meditation. And the center of the park will have a fountain designed and constructed by Yoshio Taylor to reflect the cycle of life, time, birth, and healing, as well as nature.
The park has been funded by the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy.
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Gong Stolen from Locke in 1935 Receives New Stand
The Locke Foundation recently shared good news: A Chinese gong stolen by Sacramento Union reporter during a 1935 police raid in Locke has a new stand thanks to Dee Kan (left photo below).
The gong was returned to the Locke Foundation Boarding House Museum in 2011 by the reporter's daughters.
 Article: How Antioch Addressed Past Discrimination
A March 19 article by the Associated Press documents Antioch's efforts to address historic discrimination against the city's Chinese immigrants, setting an example for larger California cities.
"In May 2021, (Antioch Mayor Lamar) Thorpe ... issued a formal apology for Antioch’s mistreatment of early Chinese immigrants, including the torching of Chinatown and driving out its residents, which has been documented by local newspapers and historians," the article reads. "Thorpe’s actions led to major cities like San Jose, Los Angeles and San Francisco passing similar resolutions."
Nominations Open for Governor's Historic Preservation Awards
The Office of Historic Preservation is accepting nominations for the 2024 Governor's Historic Preservation Awards. The application deadline is April 24.
The awards honor individuals, organizations, agencies, and projects that exemplify the best in historic preservation.
Nominees can include rehabilitation, restoration, and adaptive reuse efforts; civic efforts or organizations that preserve, interpret, and educate about community history; and companies and public agencies that go above and beyond expected mandates.
Efforts to address the challenges of climate change will be considered as well. Individuals whose passion for preservation has made a difference and saved numerous cultural, historical, and archaeological treasures may also be nominated.
For inspiration, review past recipients, including the California Theater in Pittsburg (PDF).
EXHIBITS
 Revisiting Isleton's Forgotten Nihonmachi exhibit
Isleton Museum: Forgotten Nihonmachi
The Isleton Museum's "Revisiting Isleton's Forgotten Nihonmachi" exhibit celebrated its grand opening on March 2.
This is a permanent exhibit at the museum, located at 29 Main St. in Isleton.
San Joaquin County Historical Museum: San Joaquin on the Move
Through captivating photographs from the Museum’s archives, San Joaquin on the Move will show how different forms of transit and transportation have kept the county moving forward.
This curated pictorial history will be on view in the Helen Weber Kennedy Gallery at the museum, 11793 N. Micke Grove Rd., Lodi, through May 26.
Haggin Museum: Joseph Christian Leyendecker
The Haggin Museum in Stockton houses the largest public collection of original artworks by the “Golden Age” illustrator Joseph Christian Leyendecker.
Arguably this nation’s most popular commercial artist during the first four decades of the 20th Century, Leyendecker's paintings helped sell everything from men’s clothing to breakfast cereal, and he helped define the modern magazine cover.
In honor of the 150th anniversary of his birth, the Haggin is displaying a collection of rarely seen original works and sketches by the artist through Sept. 15.
GRANTS
Community Revitalization Projects
T-Mobile Hometown Grants provide funding to towns with populations of 50,000 or less to support community revitalization projects, such as adaptive reuse of historic buildings or creation of community gathering spaces.
The grants fund shovel-ready projects that foster local connections, like technology upgrades, outdoor spaces, the arts, and community centers.
Applications are due March 31.
Extending Arts to Underserved Groups/Communities
The National Endowment for the Arts' Challenge America program offers support primarily to small organizations for projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved groups/communities.
This opportunity features an abbreviated application, a robust structure of technical assistance, and grants for a set amount of $10,000.
The deadline is midnight Eastern time on April 30.
Develop 3D Virtual Experience
CyArk's Heritage Amplified Grant helps recipients amplify place-based stories of cultural heritage through the development of a web-based 3D virtual experience.
Grantees will receive CyArk services to design and build the experience, with the final output hosted on CyArk's Tapestry platform, which can be shared and embedded.
Grantees will also receive a small cash grant to support their team during the project activities.
Applications for the grant close at midnight Pacific time on May 6.
CLASSES AND WEBINARS
Los Medanos College Lifelong Learning Lectures
The Los Medanos College's Lifelong Learning Center's spring lecture series includes lectures by local historian and Delta NHA Advisory Committee member Carol Jensen.
The following courses will be held at the College's Brentwood Center, room 308, from 1 to 3 p.m.:
- "Eastern and Antioch Electric Railway: Oakland Mole to Chico," April 16.
- "Movies in the Delta: From Steamboat Round the Bend to the Young Indiana Jones," May 21.
Enrollment at Los Medanos is not required, but you must register in advance at the Los Medanos College website.
National Historic Landmark Process
The California Garden & Landscape History Society is offering a webinar on the National Historic Landmark process 6-7 p.m. on March 27.
The webinar will focus on the Pond Farm Pottery National Historic Landmark District in Sonoma County.
EVENTS
Submit your event for inclusion in our bi-monthly Delta Heritage Courier newsletter by emailing submit@delta.ca.gov. The next newsletter comes out May 16.
April 6 in Brentwood: East Contra Costa Historical Society's "Opening Day" is a fun-filled, family-oriented day of old-fashioned fun. Pancake breakfast, music, hand-cranked ice cream, tours, and games for kids and families. 9 a.m.-2 p.m., 3890 Sellers Avenue.
April 16 in Walnut Grove: Films of the Delta will be the Sacramento River Delta Historical Society's April Program, held at the Jean Harvie Community Center, 7 p.m.
April 27 in Walnut Grove: (SOLD OUT) The Sacramento River Delta Historical Society gives its inaugural “The Delta” Award to Giusti’s Place, the iconic Delta restaurant, for its 100-plus years of hospitality, food, and cheer. 5:30-9:30 p.m. at the Ryde Hotel. The Society is now accepting nominations for next year's award.
May 19 in Vallejo: Bay Area Butterfly Festival - a family-friendly community festival. Two stages will feature performers, dance troops, and live bands. Children's free games and hands-on activities will entertain throughout the day. Food vendors and food trucks will offer a variety of cuisines, including vegan and gluten-free options. Wine and beer will be available. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at 860 Nimitz Ave.
May 21 in Walnut Grove: A potluck celebrating the history of hunting and fishing in the Delta will be the Sacramento River Delta Historical Society's May program, held at the Jean Harvie Community Center, 6 p.m.
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