James E. Kern

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Cosmorama

An unusual form of entertainment was enjoyed by Vallejaons 140 years ago this month. On April 11, 1868 the Vallejo Weekly Chronicle ran the following short article:

More On This Story...

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

The Vallejo Police Department from 1900 to 2008

On January 26, 2008, the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum opened a new exhibit looking at Vallejo law enforcement, past and present. Beyond the Badge: The Vallejo Police Department from 1900 to 2008 is an intimate look at the Vallejo Police Force, using historical archives and freshly created artwork. The paintings, photographs, photo essays and rarely seen artifacts featured in the exhibit help visitors explore the human dimensions of the job, and its effects on the police officers, their families, and the community. Historic artifacts and photos from the Museum’s permanent collection, combined with numerous items on loan from the community, tell the story of the department’s early years, while new works by several local artists focus on the present day. The Vallejo Museum is located at 734 Marin Street in downtown Vallejo. The exhibit runs through June 28, 2008.

More On This Story...

Friday, October 19, 2007

Mare Island’s October Anniversaries

Mare Island Naval Shipyard was the first U.S. Navy base on the Pacific coast, building more than 500 ships for the Navy and repairing countless thousands of others. Mare Island workers served the nation in both peace and war and set a proud record of service on behalf of the nation.

More On This Story...

Monday, August 13, 2007

Vallejo’s Chinese Community - Part Three: WWII and Beyond

World War Two brought tremendous growth and activity to Vallejo and Mare Island, and presented new opportunities to the city’s Chinese-Americans as well. The wartime economy allowed Chinese-Americans to move into a wider field of business, no longer restricted to what many considered traditional Chinese occupations. Chinese-Americans joined the thousands of defense workers supporting the war effort through employment at Mare Island and other local shipyards. Nationwide, many women were joining the ranks of defense workers including, in the Bay Area, many Chinese-American women.

More On This Story...