Schulz Museum Beginnings

Drawing Inspiration from Schulz
For many years, though thousands flocked to exhibits in the United States and around the world to see the work of Charles M. Schulz, his original comic strips had never had a proper home in Sonoma County, the place Schulz called home for almost forty years.

As the 50th anniversary of Peanuts drew closer, it seemed clear that there must be a museum, but Schulz (called Sparky by family and friends), who worked daily at his comic strip, did not think of himself as “a museum piece.”  The vision for the Museum, then, fell on the shoulders of three friends—local cartoon historian, Mark Cohen; the cartoonist's wife, Jeannie; and Sparky's longtime friend and attorney, Edwin Anderson—who were driven by the desire to show how Schulz's work inspired, healed, and taught us all what it means to be part of the human family.

Growing Enthusiasm
Schulz's enthusiasm for the Museum increased in 1997 after seeing the inspired and playful creations by artist and designer Yoshiteru Otani for the Snoopy Town shops in Japan. Sparky and Jeannie agreed that Otani could bring an element of artistic whimsy to the new Museum that would balance and complement the comic artwork.

This was all the encouragement the three friends needed to move ahead. A newly-formed Board of Directors developed the Schulz Museum's Mission Statement, chose an architect and contractor, and selected a location, with Schulz's approval of the plans at each stage.

Santa Rosa, California
With a vision of creating a place of tribute to a wonderful man who brought the world so much joy, the Board realized that the Schulz Museum’s location, as much as the building itself, would be crucial to telling the story of Sparky’s life.  The Museum could have been located anywhere; the legacy of the cartoon strip and its characters is international. But this particular spot, on the corner of Hardies Lane, was chosen because the last 30 years of Sparky’s life was centered here—around his art studio, the Redwood Empire Ice Arena (Snoopy's Home Ice), and this Santa Rosa neighborhood. Now, when visitors come to the Schulz Museum, they are, in a real sense, entering into Sparky’s world.

After four years of planning, the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center officially opened on August 17, 2002. The Museum's star-studded opening reception included such comic luminaries as Patrick McDonnell, Greg Evans, and Sergio Aragones.