The Hattie Weber Museum, located at 445 C Street in Davis, is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Did you know that a former Davis Enterprise editor is the one who shortened the name of our town from “Davisville” to “Davis” back in 1906? You can learn fun facts like this and so much more by visiting a discreet, little building in Central Park — the Hattie Weber Museum.
The first library in Davis and first public library branch in Yolo County, the building was originally constructed at its former home on F Street. $550 in funds for construction of the building were raised by the social organization, The Bachelor Girls in 1911.
Weber was the first librarian at the branch, and remained in charge there for 43 years.
In 1988, the building was moved to its current location, 445 C St, and reopened as the Hattie Weber Museum. It is now home to artifacts and exhibits that highlight the history and development of Davis and Yolo County.
The museum is non-staffed and open two days a week. It is operated by the Yolo County Historical Society.
Inside you will find a wide array of permanent exhibits including Native Americans on Putah Creek, Jerome Davis’ Ranch, more on the history of the building and Weber herself, the 1868 Railroad, the coming of UC Davis in 1906, and much more.
Current temporary exhibits consist of the Forgotten History of Chinese International Students, Davis Olympians and the Davis Bus to Alabama of 1965.
Organizers from the Davis Community Church and the Cal Aggie Christian Association chartered a Greyhound bus for March 21,1965 to answer Martin Luther King Jr.’s call for American supporters of voting rights to join him in a non-violent protest march.
Outside Montgomery, Ala., 34 Yolo County individuals joined King and his supporters for the last 12 miles of their march from Selma, Ala.
Artifacts from the past are aplenty at the museum as well. Some of the items on site include an O’Keefe and Merritt stove from the Pena House, a 1920’s cash register thought to be used in the Terminal Cafe, a Burroughs Adding Machine purchased by Charles Covell in 1920 and used for 65 years in his meat market, a Sonora Victrola and so much more.
When you enter the museum, there is a guest book to sign in. The book includes visitors from not only Davis, but from states like Washington and Utah.
Guests from both near and far have the chance to view Davis High School yearbooks dating back decades and can learn about niche Davis history, like the Davis Arch.
The Davis Arch exhibit describes the landmark as “short lived, but beloved.”
The Chamber of Commerce planned the arch in 1906 as a welcoming sought for University Farm students. Lack of funds delayed construction for a decade when Cal Aggie students themselves helped finish it. The arch stood at G Street and 2nd Street.
In the 1920’s, the arch was removed due to auto traffic hazards. Included in the exhibit is an Enterprise headline from Feb. 29, 1924 that reads in all capitals, “THE GREAT ARCH COMES DOWN TO THE EARTH.”
Whether you are a history buff or simply want to learn more about the town you call home, the Hattie Weber Museum is a gem tucked away in one of Davis’ most popular parks.
The Hattie Weber Museum is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.
