7 Comments
Feb 12·edited Feb 12Liked by Napa Valley Features

More photos of Berryessa Valley, Town of Monticello, and Lake Berryessa history are available on the Lake Berryessa News website (https://www.lakeberryessanews.com/) at: https://www.lakeberryessanews.com/photos/

Also find much more history of Napa County's original Native American population on the Suscol Intertribal Council's website (https://www.suscolcouncil.org/) at: Napa Valley First People's History:

https://www.suscolcouncil.org/about-us/firstpeopleshistory/

Expand full comment

Thank you, Peter Kilkus, for sharing such rich information on Monticello and Napa's First People, as well as descriptive photos. Kathleen

Expand full comment
Feb 12Liked by Napa Valley Features

When this was being built my family lived in Davis and were planning a move to the Napa valley. One trip over my Dad took us through the area and I remember looking down from the road at what was left in the valley. It was very baren and deep. That picture has always stayed with me

Expand full comment
Feb 12Liked by Napa Valley Features

Thank you for sharing this information. I love learning more about the inhabitants of the Napa Valley before I arrived in about 1953. How I wish that we did not have a history of displacing our indigenous inhabitants. I can recall other destruction of entire towns long after Lake Berryessa. I was both fascinated and outraged that entire communities were moved in order to fill beautiful valleys with water. Understanding that there are reasons, it continues to perplexe me.

Expand full comment
Feb 13Liked by Napa Valley Features

Thank you, Kennedy, for your comment. I can appreciate all that you've stated.

Expand full comment

This is great as far as it goes -- but it ends too early. Would love to see a history that included post-Monticello Dam resorts, the failure of the Bureau of Reclamation to develop recreational opportunities (such as hiking trails) and to attract new concessionaires, and current efforts and controversies to improve resort facilities.

Expand full comment
author

You might just be in luck. We have a new contributor who might be able to shed further light on this important topic.

Expand full comment