Napa Valley Museum was founded in 1972 by individuals concerned with preserving Vintage Hall in St. Helena. This dedicated group of citizens realized that Napa was one of the few counties in the state lacking a museum focused on its regional heritage, and so a museum was created which would celebrate Napa Valley’s history, environment and culture. In 1988, the museum decided to move the museum to a new mid-valley location in the historic town of Yountville, between St. Helena and Napa, on land leased from the State of California on the grounds of the country’s oldest and largest Veterans Home. In 1990, the architectural firm of Fernau and Hartmann was selected to create a design making a bold architectural statement using colors paying tribute to the agricultural roots of Napa County while utilizing forms and materials in a more modern, bold design. In 1998, the new Napa Valley Museum opened in Yountville, and in 2017 it was rebranded: Napa Valley Museum Yountville (NVMY).

Comprising three galleries, two parking lots, one large Meadow for accessory parking and events, an outdoor patio, and a catering kitchen, the NVMY hosts exhibitions, programs, community events, and houses our permanent collection of artwork, artifacts and objects evidencing Napa Valley’s rich geography and history. In addition to major exhibitions it showcases local and regional artists, programs, performances, plus public and private events.