About Us – Museum of the San Ramon Valley

Mission

The Museum of the San Ramon Valley is dedicated to preserving and celebrating our rich history and heritage. The collections and exhibits reflect our human experiences, institutions and cultures that were shaped by the valley's landscape, environment and early settlers.

The Valley's past is featured in a permanent exhibit that includes artifacts, an historical narrative frieze and pictures of historic buildings. The Museum collects, stores and protects artifacts from the San Ramon Valley. A Museum Store offers exciting gifts and remembrances for visitors.

In addition to a permanent exhibit on Valley history, the Museum sponsors revolving exhibits and several guided tours including the Alamo Cemetery and Old Town Danville.

School children are served with special Indian Life programs for fourth graders in the fall and the Tassajara One-Room School program for third graders in the spring. Classrooms are invited to tour the various exhibits.

The Museum at the Depot provides a unique tribute to the rich history of California's San Ramon Valley. Volunteers and donations are always welcome.

The Museum of the San Ramon Valley was founded as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization in 1985. The Museum is housed in the restored 1891 Southern Pacific Depot in Danville on Railroad Avenue at Prospect. Docents are on duty when the museum is open. School and other tours can be scheduled ahead by calling (925) 837-3750. The Depot is wheel chair accessible.

Meet the Staff

The staff addresses the administrative needs of the Museum.

Dan Dunn

Executive Director

Donna Grier

Administrative Director

Board of Directors

Brad Blackwell

President

Retired Executive Vice President, Wells Fargo Housing Policy and Homeownership Growth Strategies

Beverly Lane

Vice President

Curator, Museum of the San Ramon Valley; Board of Directors for East Bay Regional Park District, local historian and author of Vintage Danville, 150 Years of Memories and San Ramon Chronicles, Stories of Bygone Days, former Danville Councilmember and Mayor.

Mary Frandsen

Treasurer & Secretary

Retired software architect, Andersen Consulting/Accenture; Treasurer for multiple non-profit organizations.

Newell Arnerich

Member, Danville Town Council; Past Mayor, Town of Danville; Contra Costa County Mayors Conference, Past Chair; Tri-Valley Transportation Council, Past Chair; Contra Costa Transportation Authority, Director; TRAFFIX Co-founder; Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority, Director

Jan Berckefeldt

Executive Director of the Maybeck Foundation who just completed restoration of the San Francisco Palace of Fine Arts; Former Director of Development for the Oakland Museum; Immediate Past President of the California Historical Society; A Baldwin family descendent.

Chuck Fereira

Retired Associate Superintendent of Schools Martinez Unified School District; A Fereira family descendant.

John Kubas

Past Co-President, MSRV; Member, College of Idaho National Alumni Board; Retired Marketing Executive

Roxanne Lindsay

Former SRV Fire Protection District Director; Chair, Wreaths Across America , Alamo Cemetery; MSRV Docent; a Wiedemann family descendant.

Karen Sakata

Retired County Superintendent of Schools, Contra Costa County Office of Education; Board Member John Muir Land Trust; Educator and Speech Language Pathologist for 44 years.

Jerry Warren

Secretary, San Ramon Valley Historical Society; Past Steering Committee Chair; Past Chair, Board of Directors of Aging Inc.; Commissioner and Vice Chair Danville Heritage Resource Commission;

Volunteer Opportunities

Become a Volunteer!
Here's how volunteers help:

Greeter, regularly scheduled, 3 hours per month
Docent, regularly scheduled, 3 hours per month
Greeter substitute
Museum Store Committee
Curator assistance - data entry and research
Building maintenance as needed
Exhibits - creating and staffing
Graphic Design
Educational Programs
- Alamo Cemetery Tour
- Indian Life Program (Fall)
- One Room School House (Spring)
- Whistle Stop Lectures
- Downtown Walking Tours
- Other Programs
Event planning and staffing
Membership development
Publicity

Do any of these opportunities interest you? For more information on these opportunities and becoming a volunteer, please call the museum at (925) 837-3750 or send an email to srvmuseum@sbcglobal.net.