Miwok Indians used to make their clothes, jewelry and tools with skills handed down over centuries. Now you can share in some of the ancient knowledge. This fall, Olompali will play host to classes in Indian skills offered by MAPOM--the Miwok Archaeological Preserve of Marin. Experts will provide hands-on instruction in clamshell bead-making and abalone ornaments; Flintknapping (making blades and points of stone); and how to make a small rabbit skin blanket. Get the details here.
Olompali's Unique Native Plant Garden
Click the image to view the slide show.
One
of Olompali State Historic Park's highlights is its Native Plant
Garden, which is being developed at the site of the Recreated Coast
Miwok Village.
Funded
by grants from The Olompali People, Marin Master Gardeners and a County
of Marin Community Service Grant, permanent interpretive plant signage
created by Biologist Clint Kellner is complete and will be installed
this summer.
The
garden's layout, including the trail and irrigation, was designed by
Landscape Architect Rick Story and was installed by retired Park Ranger
Fred Lew, State Parks Maintenance and TOP volunteers.
Clint
Kellner, TOP Vice Chairperson and the major mover in the garden's
progress, coordinates the Volunteer Workdays, which take place the
second Sunday of each month from 10:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. for garden and
village maintenance and repair.
In
2008 the Native Plant Garden became a Marin Master Gardener project
coordinated by Master Gardener Mary Bernstein. In 2009 a project was
initiated with Petaluma's Casa Grande High School's Native Plant Nursery
and teacher John Shribbs to propagate plants for the Native Plant
Garden.
Welcome!
The Olompali People is the nonprofit support organization for Olompali State Historic Park. Located just north of Novato, California, off Highway 101, Olompali boasts 8,000 years of continuous human habitation. Its multicultural history, combined with its natural splendor, make it unique among California State Parks. Please take some time to peruse the site and learn what makes Olompali so special. Then come out and visit in person. We'd also like to have you as a member of The Olompali People, which has been actively supporting the park for more than a quarter of a century.
Park Now Open 7 Days a Week
Great news! Olompali is once again open to the public every day of the week. The park had been open only three days a week from November 2009 through June 2010 due to cutbacks at California State Parks. The lifting of the restriction couldn't have come at a better time, since a nice summer day offers the perfect opportunity to enjoy one of Marin County's most idyllic places. So come out and see us any time between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Help Bring History to Life
Interested in helping maintain the recreated Coast Miwok Village at
Olompali?
How about putting your gardening skills to work in the Native Plant
Garden?
Come on out the second Sunday of each month 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to
participate.
Gardening Tools and Refreshments provided, along with lots of self
satisfaction.
Upcoming volunteer dates for 2010:
September 12th, October 10th, November
14th,
and December 12th .
There are many ways to volunteer at Olompali State Historic Park!
Call 707-762-9715 for more information.
Friday School/Tour Group Tours
Available
Olompali
Volunteer Docent led tours are available to school and tour groups on
Fridays
byreservation. Please contact Diane Einstein at 707-762-9715 or e-mail
einersgal@ymail.com for moreinformation. To make your reservation,
please download, complete and submit the School/Tour Groupreservation request.
