Delta Heritage Courier
July/August 2026
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EVENTS
Find fun things to do in the Delta at VisitCADelta.com/events. The site includes community events throughout the legal Delta and the National Heritage Area (NHA).
Community events in the Delta (PDF map) or Delta National Heritage Area (PDF map) may be submitted for the calendar by using this form or emailing submit@delta.ca.gov. Please submit events at least one week in advance to ensure time for posting.
DELTA NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA STORIES
Port Chicago Disaster Commemoration Event
On July 18 the Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial will host its 82nd Anniversary Commemoration, honoring the lives lost in the tragic explosion of July 17, 1944.
This annual event serves as a “poignant reminder of the sacrifices made and the enduring impact on civil rights and military policies.” The commemoration will feature guest speakers reflecting on the historical significance of the disaster.
Event RSVPs are required to access the active Army installation. Registration ends on July 11.
Applications Open for National Heritage Area Advisory Committee Through July 20
Applications are open for five seats and one alternate position on the Delta National Heritage Area Advisory Committee.
The committee advises the Delta Protection Commission about implementation of the National Heritage Area Management Plan, and its members act as ambassadors to the diverse partners and communities in the NHA. Applications close at 5 p.m. July 20. Learn more and apply.
Movies in the Park, Discovery Bay-style
What’s better on a balmy summer evening than a movie in the local park? Discovery Bay residents get to enjoy this “long-time family tradition” four Fridays a year, when the town provides a full-size outdoor movie screen and “awesome sound system” for a first-rate outdoor theatre experience.
Film-goers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, a blanket, their favorite movie snacks, and friends and family. The free-of-charge movies start at dusk at the Community Center, 1601 Discovery Bay Blvd.
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Three Summertime History Jaunts
 It's a great time of year to explore the hidden gems in your own backyard! Here are three fun jaunts to historic locations in the National Heritage Area.
Freeport
The town of Freeport only has a population of about 100 people, but it has a big history!
The town was developed in the 1860s as a river port for merchants transporting freight and passengers from the Bay Area to Sacramento and on to the fields of the Gold Rush.
Steamships unloaded goods at this new waterfront location, which were then transferred to a 10-mile railway that bypassed Sacramento. This allowed the merchants to avoid paying heavy wharf and port taxes at the Sacramento Embarcadero. The transit hub became known as a "free port," giving the town its name.
Don’t miss the iconic 1929 Freeport bridge, designed by Joseph Strauss and his engineering firm, the Strauss Bascule Bridge Company – the same team that designed the Golden Gate Bridge.
Locals swear by the fish and chips at Freeport Bar & Grill; and visiting fisherfolk can load up on pile worms, hooks and poles at Freeport Bait & Tackle Inc.
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Clarksburg
This Delta legacy town was founded by Judge Robert Clark in 1856.
Dairying was historically an important economic activity in the area, and, after 1920, sugar beets became the area’s primary crop.
A sugar refinery was built in 1934, processing local and shipped beets for the next 60 years. In 2000, as vineyards expanded in the area, the abandoned refinery was restored and became The Old Sugar Mill, a popular facility showcasing a number of local wineries and their products.
Don’t miss the beautifully restored 1883 Clarksburg Schoolhouse, open Saturdays and Sundays 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
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Vallejo
Vallejo, named after General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, was founded in 1851. The city became the first permanent seat of California state government in 1852, officially serving as the capital of California from 1852 to 1853.
In 1853, the United States Navy purchased the peninsula of Mare Island in Vallejo for the creation of the first naval installation on the West Coast of the United States. From 1854 to 1996, the Mare Island Naval Shipyard served as a major strategic military hub and is now a National Historic District undergoing dynamic revitalization.
The city’s colorful past is celebrated at the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum, where visitors can explore local artifacts, learn about Mare Island’s Navy legacy and discover Vallejo’s "influential women." There’s even a Vallejo Sports Hall of Fame, honoring local athletes and teams.
Don’t miss: a symphony, movie or live performance at the lovely Empress Theatre, a fully renovated historical landmark located in downtown Vallejo. Built in 1911, it was re-opened in 2008 after nearly 20 years of disuse following the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.
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Arts Mentorship Program
 Arts Contra Costa (ARTSCCC) offers a unique program for incarcerated youth at Juvenile Hall in Martinez.
The Poetry Series Program consists of spoken word, poetry, and art workshops led by a community-based artist team. Participating youth engage in team-building activities through creative expression, with the goal of building their confidence for both educational and professional opportunities.
In this “transformative” program, says ARTSCCC founder and executive director Jenny Balisle, “we want to make sure these youth are seen, heard, acknowledged, mentored, and supported.”
A New Library for Oakley
Oakley is building a new library!
“For decades, our community has dreamed of a space designed for connection, learning, and growth,” says a recent Friends of the Oakley Library website post, “and that vision is coming to life!”
Planned next to City Hall and Civic Center Park, the new Oakley Library & Community Center will feature welcoming spaces for children, teens and adults; study rooms, a modern community room and city meeting spaces “all inspired by the natural beauty of the Delta.”
Groundbreaking of the facility is scheduled for fall 2026.
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 Historic Miyasaki Bathhouse Re-Opens
Fans of long, luxurious tub soaks will be delighted to know that the historic Miyasaki Bathhouse in Walnut Grove has recently re-opened.
The bathhouse was built in 1916 by the Miyasaki family, one year after a catastrophic fire swept through Walnut Grove. It served as a boarding house and a sento (a traditional public bathhouse) for Japanese laborers toiling in the Delta's agricultural fields.
Following decades of abandonment after the internment of Japanese Americans in 1942, the structure underwent an extensive restoration process.
Two-hour rentals are available by reservation. The cedar-lined bathhouse offers two deep soaking tubs, a steam room, and a selection of essential oils and bath salts. Towels and bathrobes are included in the experience, as are a complimentary array of snacks and hot tea.
Above the bathhouse, guests will discover an art gallery, and there are several rooms available through Airbnb for visitors who’d like to extend their stay in this small history-steeped town.
For more information and to book a two-hour tub-soaking, contact owner Jeanette Conley, (415) 513-8180; jetconley1@gmail.com.
Video Celebrates Portuguese History
The Delta has been profoundly shaped by many immigrant groups throughout the past 175 years.
One of those groups is the Portuguese, who emigrated primarily from the Azores. Portuguese newcomers farmed along the Sacramento River, established dairies and vineyards, and were involved in the bustling Delta fishing industry.
An engaging video, presented by California County News, explores the Delta Portuguese community’s history, many contributions and vibrant cultural traditions - including the music, communal feasts and Holy Ghost Festas - which remain central to their identity today.
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Did You Know?
1. California Endive Farms, based in Rio Vista, is the largest producer of endive in the United States, producing over 5 million pounds annually.
2. There’s a monastery in Walnut Grove. It serves as a gathering place for Vietnamese worshippers and features extensive landscaped grounds, a retreat space, and outdoor religious statues.
3. Natural gas was discovered in the Delta in 1935. McDonald Island is PG&E’s largest natural gas storage field and is capable of providing 25 percent of Northern California’s winter peak-day gas demand.
4. Popular legend tells us that Mare Island - once known as Isla Plana - got its current name from General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo sometime around 1844. Vallejo discovered that his favorite horse had survived drowning in the Carquinez Straits after a boat accident, swimming to safety on the island. In gratitude, Vallejo named the spot “Isla de la Yegua” (Island of the Mare).
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Port Costa Gets Some Love
 For those in the know, Port Costa is a quirky, friendly, history-packed community. The small town’s charms have been extolled lately by both The Mercury News (“Port Costa’s historic main drag is a hidden gem”) and the online travel magazine Islands (“Sandwiched Between San Francisco And Sacramento Is California's Charming Town With Americana Vibes And Scenic Trails”).
If you’ve never visited, now’s the time! Check out the fascinating 1911 Port Costa Schoolhouse museum – tours are available by appointment and include not only the story of the 15,000 square foot historic school building and its restoration, but also a walking history of the town of Port Costa.
And don’t forget to visit the ferocious stuffed Polar Bear at the Warehouse Café, the town’s wacky, beloved (and yes, historic) watering hole.
MUSEUMS
Benicia's History Corner
 On the fourth Thursday of each month, the Museum of History Benicia and the Benicia Historical Society host the History Corner, a special pop-up presence celebrating the stories, people, and places that shaped Benicia.
History Corner is featured from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Benicia Farmers Market, located at 1st Street & D Street. Market strollers are encouraged to stop by the pop-up to meet representatives from Benicia’s historical organizations “and discover how Benicia’s rich past continues to live in the present.”
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