Historic Home Tour in Martinez

The charming home pictured above is one of the 7 houses that you will see on the Historic Home Tour in Martinez. This particular house is a Craftsman bungalow built in 1914. It was acquired by its present owner in 2001. He then set about restoring his home – taking it back as much as possible to what it may have looked like 102 years ago.

You’ll find that many of the houses on the Home Tour have interesting features which reflect the interests and personalities of the owners. For the house above, it’s a model train that begins chugging around the living room (at the level of the picture rails) as you enter the front door.

There will also be a garden sanctuary on the tour where rescued wildlife reside while being rehabilitated. In addition, there will be a public building on the Tour: the Martinez Junior High School, a 1931 Spanish Revival building that won a statewide award for its design. And you will have the option of obtaining a sneak peek inside the newly renovated Martinez Museum a week before it opens to the general public. The Museum has been closed for over a year while work was done on the building.

The Tour will begin at the Shell Clubhouse. Complementary coffee will be served. There will be interesting displays and exhibits to be seen, and the Shell Museum next door will be open also. If you don't wish to drive your own car, buses with tour guides will run every 10 minutes to shuttle you to the 7 homes, the wildlife garden and the Junior High School. There will be a tour guide on each bus, and docents will be stationed in each home to answer your questions and point out unique details about each home. You'll also encounter local musicians along the way. Allow 2 or more hours for the Tour.

More photos and more information about the Tour can be found at the website: www.MartinezHomeTour.com

Calendar Details:

• Date: Saturday, October 8^th.
• Time: 10am to 4pm. Allow 2+ hours to complete the Tour
• Location: Begin at the Shell Clubhouse, 1635 Pacheco Blvd. in Martinez.
• Tickets: $25 from Eventbrite or select Merchants in Martinez. $30 at the gate.