Destination Napa: Philosophies of Wellness
December 2024 - September 2025
Curated by Napa County Historical Society, this comprehensive exhibit covers the history of wellness practices in Napa Valley from the 1850s to the 1960s. Even before it was a wine destination, people traveled to this region to relax and rejuvenate in the hot springs resorts, ranging from rustic to luxurious, which sprang up from Napa to Calistoga. Bottled mineral water and geothermal wells - a natural resource found throughout Napa Valley - world-class hospitality and bucolic scenery were also key elements drawing frazzled city dwellers to this Garden of Eden. Savvy entrepreneurs like Sam Brannan, Calistoga’s founder and the state’s first millionaire, the Angwin brothers, Swen Alstrom, and Chancellor Hartson created and promoted lavish resorts with the latest modern conveniences to put Napa Valley on the wellness map. This industry even propelled modes of transportation, from highways to railroad lines, forward to make tourist travel more convenient.
Destination Napa provides a vivid perspective on Napa Valley’s booming wellness history from its earliest days through photographs, maps, period artifacts, and advertisements.
Our thanks to the Napa County Historical Society for generously sharing this exhibit with us.
Exhibit Gallery
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