Hamilton Field History Museum

06/03/2026

04/19/2026

In March 1932, the County of Marin officially transferred the land, then known as Marin Meadows, to the U.S. Government for one dollar. This transfer cleared the way for the construction to begin on Hamilton Field. The location for the new base had been hotly contested up and down the coast because these were the Great Depression years, and the new base would create 800 new jobs.
The Ceremonial Certificate commemorates that event.

03/19/2026

Airmail Week Flashback, 1938. Airline travel was not yet widely accepted, but financially struggling airline companies were making progress. President Franklin Roosevelt and Postmaster General James Farley created a national public relations campaign to generate wider usage of airmail, which in turn would help the airline industry. They declared May 15-21, 1938, as National Airmail Week. The goal was to encourage citizens to send mail by air. When the program ended, it was deemed a success. And it stimulated interest--many folks were willing to shell out an additional three cents to send an air letter. It was a small stamp from the post office but a giant leap in aviation history.

02/14/2026

Looking Back- The Angeles of Bataan

Seventy-eight American Army and Navy nurses were captured during the fall of the Philippines in 1942. They continued their nursing duties, taking care of wounded and sick soldiers during their 3-1/2 years as prisoners of War. They were liberated on February 12, 1945, and arrived at Hamilton three weeks later on March 3rd.

01/17/2026

One of the more popular exhibits at the Hamilton Field History Museum is the 30-foot-long display case featuring seventeen meticulously crafted airplane models.

Viewed from right to left, the exhibit traces the evolution in size, shape, and propulsion of the military aircraft stationed at Hamilton Field between 1935 and 1975.

Each model is a high-quality 1:48-scale replica, built from kits sourced both in the United States and abroad. Their colors, insignias, and markings reflect the aircraft exactly as they appeared during their service at Hamilton.
To help visitors appreciate the true scale of these aircraft, a six-foot-tall human figure is placed beside every second model as a consistent point of reference.

Come explore the Hamilton Field History Museum and see these and other histories up close.

08/26/2025

Update on the new Novato History Museum Project

The Novato Chamber Board of Directors is proud to express our full support for the New History Museum Project. As an organization committed to the growth and expansion of our community, we recognize that honoring and preserving our past is an essential part of building a thriving future.

We deeply value the rich history of our great city and applaud the initiative of our residents who work tirelessly to keep that history alive for generations to come. The New History Museum will not only celebrate our heritage but also serve as a lasting resource for education, inspiration, and civic pride.

The Chamber looks forward to seeing this vision realized and stands ready to champion this important addition to our community.

08/19/2025

After the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, the U.S. military recognized the urgent need for rapid aircraft identification to prevent friendly fire and improve air defense. To meet this need, aircraft spotter models, also known as aircraft recognition models, played a crucial role during World War II in training both military personnel and civilians to quickly identify an aircraft by its silhouette as a friend or foe.
Most models were made from solid wood and painted flat black to mimic an aircraft's silhouette seen against the sky.
High school shop classes across the U.S. were enlisted to help produce these models, turning a peacetime hobby into a wartime necessity.

07/21/2025

Construction of the Hamilton Field hospital was completed in November 1934. During World War II, it treated up to 3,500 wounded soldiers each month. Over time, the facility became outdated and was officially closed in 1995.
In September of 2014, the City of Novato sold the property to an investment group, which transformed it into an 80-unit assisted living and memory care facility. As a tribute to the base's original architect, Captain Howard Nurse, the entire front facade was carefully rehabilitated and preserved.

06/28/2025

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, September 1944-The famous comedy duo visited the evacuee wards of Hamilton Hospital during a morale-boosting tour. At the height of their popularity during World War II, Abbott and Costello were passionate supporters of the war effort. Through two nationwide tours, they helped promote the sale of war bonds, raising an impressive $85 million for the U.S. government.

06/10/2025

What Happened to the Hamilton Field Water Tower?
The Hamilton Field water tower was constructed in the early 1930s as part of Hamilton Army Airfield. When the base closed in 1975, the land where the tower stood came under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Coast Guard.
The tower remained in place for nearly fifty years until the Coast Guard decided to demolish it due to structural concerns. It did not meet modern seismic standards, and its deteriorating tank was coated with lead-based paint.
The demolition of the tower was completed in November 2021.