American Graffiti

American Graffiti filmed in 1973 was written and directed by George Lucas. It starred Ron Howard, Harrison Ford, Wolfman Jack, and Cindy Williams just to name a few. Most of the cruise scenes were filmed on Main Street in downtown Petaluma.

Every year Petaluma hosts the American Graffiti car show. It is one of the biggest car shows in the county. It is just one more reason I love living in Sonoma County.

In just three years, Petaluma's Salute to American Graffiti Celebration, which takes place on the same streets where the movie was filmed has become one of the premier and most sought to attend classic car events in Northern California. Registration for Salute 2009 is already full with cars from as far away as Colorado, Utah, Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Nevada and throughout California.

Like the movie, Petaluma evokes a time gone by with its turn-of-the-century brick and Ironfront buildings, stately Victorian homes and downtown riverfront. Incorporated in 1858 and located on U.S. Highway 101 just a 40 minute drive north of the Golden Gate Bridge, this historic gateway to the Redwood Empire, wild Sonoma and Mendocino coasts, and world-renown Sonoma and Napa wine countries is a very popular destination for visitors from around the world