History Lives is the Museum’s premier fundraising event, drawing supporters from across the Bay Area for an evening of wine country hospitality and a celebration of the people and stories that have shaped Healdsburg. Proceeds support the Museum’s exhibitions, educational programs, and ongoing preservation of the region’s heritage. This year’s gala anchors a year-long celebration marking 50 years since the Museum’s founding in 1976.
Mike & Erika McGuire
Mike McGuire is a third-generation Northern Californian whose family farmed prunes and grapes in Alexander Valley for nearly 50 years. A Healdsburg High School graduate and former student body president (Class of 1997), McGuire’s career in public service began when he was elected to the Healdsburg School Board at age 19. He served on the Healdsburg City Council, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, and in the California State Senate, where he represented the North Bay region. A longtime supporter of the Healdsburg Museum, McGuire’s leadership reflects the values of stewardship and opportunity that define the Museum’s mission.
Erika Fremault McGuire has devoted her career to education and student success in Sonoma County. Raised in Santa Rosa and a graduate of Sonoma State University, she began her professional life with the American Cancer Society before turning to education. Since joining Healdsburg High School in 2011, Erika has served as Assistant Principal and Director of Student Services at Healdsburg Junior High and, since 2017, as Principal of Fitch Mountain Elementary School, where she continues to shape the lives of the community’s youngest learners.
Individually and together, the McGuires represent a legacy of service that spans agriculture, education, healthcare, emergency services, and programs supporting youth and seniors across Northern California. There is no more fitting way to mark our 50th anniversary than by celebrating two people who embody everything this museum stands for—stewardship, service, and a deep love of community.
