Martinez Historical Home Tour

The upcoming 2012 Martinez Home Tour will take place on Saturday October 13^th. The 7 private homes will be located within walking distance of each other — although a shuttle service will be available every 10 minutes. This is a very interesting event because it has antique cars, displays, exhibits, period demonstrations and musicians that are mixed in with the homes.
This year, there will also be 4 «points of interest» on the Tour — all located in the same area as the homes. The points of interest include the brass and stone monument that identifies the spot where the Martini was invented. Also the «doll hospital» where vintage dolls are repaired, new dolls are manufactured and doll making classes are taught. Also City Hall — with a docent on duty to explain that the building began life in 1917 as a school to accomodate the influx of children into town as the new Shell Refinery began operating.
The Shell Clubhouse is the starting point for the Tour. Its Arts & Crafts interior will be filled with displays and exhibits. Then there are four museums which will be open during the tour: The Shell Oil Museum, the Martinez Museum, the John Muir Mansion and the Martinez Adobe.

Nestled in the shadows of Shell Oil and located along the Carquinez Straits Shoreline, Martinez is pleasant city that has maintained its small town charm. With a diversity of home styles it is a great place to have a home tour and show that Martinez is more than a refinery town or the County Seat.
L & I purchased our tickets as soon as they were available at one of the many events on Main Street. This was the third annual tour, with the proceeds benefiting the Historical Society.
The architectural designs of the homes on this year’s tour included Victorians, an early 1900 craftsmen style home, some 1920’s & 1930’s bungalows, and a Tudor home.
What I like about this tour and why it is a five star event
The diversity of home styles
A well written guide book that tells about the history of the home and the people of Martinez
All the homes had wonderful high end classic cars, like a 1930 something Pierce Arrow, parked in front of them. The other cars were also very impressive. I walk by one house twice and the 1930 something Cadillac parked in front of it was surround by admirers. These beautiful cars don’t show up at most car shows.
The docents stationed in the homes all were dressed in the period style of when the home was built.
And perhaps the best thing about this tour is even thought the homes are showplaces, at least on the day of the tour, I could see myself living in most of them.