Celebrating 150 Years of Santa Rosa High: A Legacy of Education and Community Spirit

The year 1874 was a significant one in American history. Among its many milestones were the patenting of barbed wire, the annexation of the Bronx by New York City, and the opening of the Philadelphia Zoo. Ulysses S. Grant was in the White House, leading a nation of just 37 states, and it was the year the Republican Party adopted the elephant as its symbol. Poet Robert Frost was born, and across the country, cities were rapidly growing. But in the small city of Santa Rosa, another monumental event was unfolding: the opening of Santa Rosa High School.

Santa Rosa High School, the ninth public high school established in California, opened its doors in 1874. It followed the opening of Petaluma High School by just a year, and today, 150 years later, the school stands as a cornerstone of Sonoma County’s educational and cultural history.

“It’s something clearly remarkable, not just for Sonoma County, but for California,” said Mike Daniels, a 1959 graduate of SRHS, retired English teacher, and founding member of the Santa Rosa High Foundation.

This weekend, a grand celebration will commemorate the school’s 150th anniversary, marking a century and a half of educating the community’s youth. The festivities begin on Friday night with a homecoming football game against Piner High School at 7 p.m., and the celebration continues into Saturday with guided tours of the school, a “Show and Shine” car show, and performances by local bands and students.

Santa Rosa High School’s long and storied history is tied to the city itself. When it was founded, Santa Rosa was a burgeoning community in the heart of Northern California’s wine country, known for its agriculture and later as the home of famed horticulturist Luther Burbank. Over the years, Santa Rosa has experienced its own historical moments, from surviving the 1906 earthquake to being a backdrop for Alfred Hitchcock’s 1943 thriller *Shadow of a Doubt*. The school has remained a pillar of stability through it all, educating generations of students while fostering a sense of pride and community.

“There is something to be said for something being that old and having such a rich tradition and rich history,” said Santa Rosa High School Principal Mark Ryan. “It’s worthwhile for people to come and celebrate something that is historical.”

Saturday’s events include guided tours of the school campus and its museum, which boasts a collection of memorabilia from throughout the school’s history, including decades-old uniforms, pom-poms, and spirit wear. Volunteers from the Santa Rosa High Foundation have been hard at work preparing the school for this celebration, including hanging historic photographs in the main building.

Mary Beseda, the foundation’s president and a 1974 SRHS graduate, spoke of the significance of the upcoming reunion. Beseda’s class recently celebrated its 50th reunion, with around 120 people attending. The SRHS Museum, located on the second floor of the main building, was a popular attraction during the reunion, featuring yearbooks, blankets celebrating past athletic achievements, and a collection of spirit-related items.

“It’s got just about every yearbook you could imagine,” Beseda said. “And all kinds of memorabilia.”

Among those eagerly anticipating the 150th celebration is Muriel Craw Kingsbury, a graduate of the class of 1954. At 88 years old, Kingsbury and her classmates have long been planning their 70th class reunion, which includes attending the football game and other events. Though their group has grown smaller over the years, the sense of camaraderie and love for their alma mater remains strong.

“It’s our alma mater. We love it,” Kingsbury said. “It was the beginning of the rest of your life, you might say. It was our last woohoo before we stepped out into the world.”

Santa Rosa High’s school spirit is legendary. Every Friday during the fall sports season, students and teachers gather in the hallways of the main building to sing the school’s fight song, a tradition that has spread across classrooms over the years. According to retired history teacher and foundation member Art Horner, this spirit is one of the reasons SRHS has retained its strong sense of community.

“I think it’s because the kids really care about the school,” Horner said. “We have all these groups that all think they are dominant. We have ag, we have ArtQuest, we have sports kids. They all see it as their school.”

That spirit will be on full display during Saturday’s celebration, with performances by student groups and an opening of the school’s time capsule, which was sealed in 2010 and will be resealed during the event.

For alumni like Kingsbury, the 150th anniversary is not just a celebration of the past, but a reminder of the community and connections that were built within Santa Rosa High’s halls. “The teachers were special. The office people were special. The students were special,” she said. “I suppose everybody feels that way, but I very much feel that way.”

As Santa Rosa High School marks its 150th year, it continues to serve as a beacon of tradition, pride, and educational excellence, just as it has since the days when barbed wire was new, and the country was still growing.

Santa Rosa, located in the heart of Northern California’s wine country, is known for its rich agricultural history and as the home of famed horticulturist Luther Burbank, whose plant experiments had a lasting impact on agriculture worldwide. The city survived the devastating 1906 San Francisco earthquake, which significantly shaped its architectural and cultural landscape. Santa Rosa was also a backdrop for Alfred Hitchcock’s 1943 thriller Shadow of a Doubt. In recent years, it has gained recognition for its vibrant arts scene, outdoor recreational opportunities, and proximity to world-class vineyards and natural beauty, including nearby Annadel State Park and the Russian River.

Santa Rosa is home to a diverse and thriving business community, driven by its unique location in Sonoma County. Some of the most successful industries include:

1. Wine and Agriculture: As part of Northern California’s renowned wine region, Santa Rosa is a hub for wineries and vineyards. Companies like Kendall-Jackson Wine Estates and Rodney Strong Vineyards have their operations based in the area, contributing to the region’s global reputation for wine production.

2. Healthcare: The healthcare sector is strong in Santa Rosa, with Kaiser Permanente and Sutter Health among the leading employers, providing a range of medical services to the community.

3. Technology: The city has a growing tech sector, with companies like Keysight Technologies, a global leader in electronics and measurement equipment, headquartered in Santa Rosa.

4. Tourism and Hospitality: With its proximity to wine country, Santa Rosa thrives on tourism. The local hospitality industry, including hotels, restaurants, and tourism services, is bolstered by visitors to the nearby vineyards, parks, and attractions like the Charles M. Schulz Museum, celebrating the creator of Peanuts.

5. Craft Brewing: Santa Rosa has a booming craft beer scene, with Russian River Brewing Company being one of the most famous names. Its highly sought-after Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger beers draw visitors from all over.

These industries, alongside a strong retail and small business sector with businesses such as a Santa Rosa Mediation Lawyer , help fuel Santa Rosa’s economy and make it a vibrant business environment.