Meet our team of experts who have volunteered their time and energy to restore a lost treasure of our community. If you would like to volunteer, please email us at [email protected]
or call us at (925) 316-6069. We would love to have you.
or call us at (925) 316-6069. We would love to have you.
Damian Bacich
Historian Damian Bacich is a translator and researcher of Hispanic California. He earned a B.A. (History) from the University of San Francisco and a Ph.D. (Hispanic Languages and Literatures) from UCLA. He has worked in archives in the U.S., Mexico and Europe, and has written articles for journals such as California History and the Boletín of the California Missions Foundation. He is Professor of Spanish at San José State University and chair of the Department of World Languages and Literatures. In 2015 Damian founded the California Frontier Project to help others learn about the culture and history of Alta California.
Jack Da Silva
Metalsmith Expert Over 41 yrs experience and third generation headstone maker with an emphasis in ancient\traditional metalsmithing. Former Board Member of the California Blacksmith Association. Has given symposiums, lectures, and workshops around the world regarding metalsmithing and its many techniques. He is the owner of Jack da Silva's Metal Design Studio. 
Dan Mosier
California Brick Expert Historical Researcher with over 45 yrs experience and Geologist with over 35 yrs experience. In 1970, he began collecting, researching marked bricks, and by 2001, he launched the California Bricks website to publish his research and help archaeologists identify said bricks. In 2013, he was awarded the Mark Raymond Harrington Award for archaeological conservation by the Society for California Archaeology. He is the webmaster and creator of the California Bricks Website. 
Sonia Ng
Historian Historian with over 25yrs experience and considered one of the foremost authorities on the subject of Chinese cemeteries and shipment of disinterred bones back to China. She is the driving force behind an exhibition on this subject at the SF Chinese Cultural Foundation this coming fall as well as the advising historian to the Taoist Temple Preservation Society of Hanford (aka now China Ally Preservation Society) for over two decades. 
Christian Rousset
Project Manager His life long interest in historical sites led him to the restoration of Monasteries, Churches, Cathedrals, and Castles throughout Europe. He is a stone and wood sculptor, mason and brick layer specialist. With his family, he relocated to California from France, started his own custom homes building company, servicing the 24\680 Highway corridor. After 47 years of enjoying this wonderful trade he is currently half retired. He is overseeing the reconstruction of the Rodgers Ranch Heritage Center Wheat House, a Pleasant Hill registered historic site from 1864. |
Alexandria Brown
Historian Alexandria has a BA with honors in anthropology and sociology from Mills College, a Masters in Library & Information Science from San Jose State University, and an MA in U.S. History from Adams State University. She spent four years as the Head of the Research Library at the Napa County Historical Society, and has worked as a librarian and archivist in several other organizations throughout Sonoma and Marin Counties and in San Francisco. She is currently writing a book on the history of marginalized people in Napa County
Sean Dexter
Lead Archaeologist Renowned Archaeologist and Anthropologist with 20yrs experience in cultural resource management, specializing in prehistoric and historic archaeology. He directs cultural resource surveys, investigations, mitigation monitoring, complete recordation of archaeological resources, and coordinates with the California Office of Historic Preservation. He is the CEO of Country Condor Consulting, Inc. 
Shauna Mundt
Assistant Lead Archaeologist Historical Archaeologist with extensive knowledge and experience in late 19th and early 20th century America. Shauna has a BA in Anthropology from UC Berkeley where she contributed field and lab work along with original research to the Fort Davis Archaeological Project and is currently pursuing an MA in Applied Anthropology with an emphasis in Historical Archaeology and Cultural Resources Management at San Jose State. She was a Collections Intern at both the Hearst Museum and the Oakland Museum of California, and currently for the National Park Service she’s assisting the management of a historical artifact collection as a Museum Intern 
Keith Park
Project Arborist Certified Arborist and Preservation Horticulturist for the National Park Service, with a special focus on preservation maintenance and the protection of historic cultural landscapes. Keith has a BS in Environmental Horticulture and MA in Historic Preservation.
Stacy Smith
Historian Stacey Smith is an Associate Professor of History at Oregon State University. She received her BA from the University of Colorado and her MA and PhD from the University of Wisconsin. She specializes in the history of the American West, California, and the Civil War and Reconstruction eras. She is also the author of Freedom's Frontier from UNC Press. 
Ray Wallace
Project Construction Engineer Assistant Project Marketer |
Not depicted YET, but no less important:
Virginia Bones - Assistant Archaeologist
John Curtis - MHS President & Project Consultant
Carolyn Knight - Assistant Archaeologist
Carolyn Mac Kenzie - Uber Volunteer
Sonia Ng - Chinese-American Cultural Expert & Historian
Ann Roos - Assistant Archaeologist
Carter Wilson - MHS Board Director & Project Consultant
Virginia Bones - Assistant Archaeologist
John Curtis - MHS President & Project Consultant
Carolyn Knight - Assistant Archaeologist
Carolyn Mac Kenzie - Uber Volunteer
Sonia Ng - Chinese-American Cultural Expert & Historian
Ann Roos - Assistant Archaeologist
Carter Wilson - MHS Board Director & Project Consultant