Did you know…that for 30 years Santa Rosa was the home of Charles Schulz, creator of Charlie Brown and Snoopy? We h
ave “Snoopy’s home ice,” the Redwood Ice Arena, a rink built, according to legend, so that Schulz’s daughter could learn to skate, and site of an annual holiday ice show, senior hockey tournament, endless birthday parties–and, long ago, tennis matches! Schultz used to be a regular at the cafe there, the Warm Puppy. Across the street is the Charles M. Schulz Museum, which includes Schulz’s studio and changing exhibits of cartoon art. Three exhibits will be on display in September: Baseball as Allegory, Political Peanuts, and Schultz’s Beethoven: Schroeder’s Muse (check their website at http://www.schulzmuseum.org/).
Without even trying, you can’t miss the influence of Peanuts. For the last few summers, local artists have decorated statues of Snoopy on his doghouse, Woodstock in a tree, Joe Cool, and, of course, Charlie Brown himself; after their display around town, they were auctioned for charity. Many remain in front of the businesses that purchased them. A good place to view several of them is Railroad Square, aka lower (west of Hwy 101) Fourth Street. Two stand in front of one of our favorite breakfast places, the Omelette Express.
While you’re i
n Railroad Square, don’t miss the train station at the western end of the street. This is the setting for a scene from Hitchcock’s Shadow of a Doubt, which was filmed in Santa Rosa (we’ll give some more Hitchcock recommendations along the way). Here is where Joseph Cotton arrived and was greeted by Theresa Wright. The station now houses a visitors’ information center. Check out the Charlie Brown bronze at the corner, a tribute to Schulz, and if the station is open, take your small child to play with the electric train inside.
Tags: Our Famous Neighbors
