Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Paean to Peanuts
Anyone who loves the Peanuts comics and TV shows will spend a few hours
in happy absorption at the surprisingly lavish Charles M. Schulz Museum
and Research Center 555 (2301 Hardies Lane, Santa Rosa; % 707/
579-4452; Mon-Fri 11am-5pm, Sat-Sun 10am-5pm; $8 adults; $5 seniors,
students, and kids; www.schulzmuseum.com). Sparky, as he was called,
made ungodly amounts of money off the licensing of his creations, so his
estate has the financial wherewithal to burnish his reputation at this two-
story facility, which would be worthy of any major artist.
There's lots to see and do at this two-level gallery-cum-library. Of
course, there are tons of strips from the entire run of the series—always
the original, never copies—and biographical information about Sparky,
who died in 2000 (this place opened in 2002). Even more interesting are
the many tributes to the strip by other artists, such as a life-size Snoopy
made of Baccarat crystal, Christo's Wrapped Snoopy House, and a wall
mosaic of 3,588 tiles by Yoshitero Otari. The museum preserves Schulz's
work room, with its worn drawing board, Higgins ink, and unremarkable
book selection. Also fun is the nonstop slate of showings of classic TV spe-
cials and movies in a screening room. (Kids will particularly enjoy that, as
well as the play area outside.)
But in all honesty, the biggest lesson that I came away with is that
Peanuts is one seriously depressing strip, a catalogue of human cruelty and
misery. The characters are constantly demeaning and insulting each other.
(Think I'm crazy? Have a look at some old strips for yourself.) It's fascinat-
ing that something as dark became such a mainstream kids' property.
Many visitors don't realize it, but the Schulz experience continues
across the street at the Redwood Empire Ice Arena, also known as Snoopy's
Home Ice, which Schulz built himself as a gift to Santa Rosa. As random
as it may seem to have a Snoopy-themed ice rink, there's a real sense of
community here. Public skating costs $9 to $12, including skate rental,
but call ahead ( % 707/546-7147) to find out when the rink will be free,
because it's popular with a variety of local clubs and it's usually crawling
with kids. It's also closed on Tuesdays in winter. The gift shop next door
far surpasses the inventory of the little closet they run in the museum, so
make sure you stop here. The canteen at the rink is called the Warm Puppy
Café (p. 226), and Sparky used to eat there every day.
% 707/942-4575; www.parks.ca.gov; sunrise-sunset). You'll find just a few arti-
facts from the man, including what are supposedly the last words he ever wrote.
It's mostly an undeveloped park with a fire road that affords a good view from
atop Mount St. Helena.
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