Katherine Rinehart

Katherine J. Rinehart is a historian and longtime advocate for preserving Petaluma’s cultural heritage. She is the author of Petaluma: A History in Architecture and co-author of The Petaluma River: A Sketch Journal and Brief Historical Overview. She believes that adaptive reuse of historic properties is one of the smartest investments a community can make. Retaining an existing structure, which breathes new life into a resource that already carries a sense of place, character, and craftsmanship no new construction can replicate, results in a genuinely authentic experience for residents and visitors alike and strengthens the local economy through rising property values and increased business in the surrounding area.