The city of Pleasanton, located in the beautiful Amador-Livermore valley, was formed in 1867 when immigrants John Kottinger and Joshua Neal used land from their Californio wives dowries and laid out a town. Kottinger named the city after Civil War general Alfred Pleasonton, but a postal clerical error changed the spelling to Pleasanton and the name stuck. The men secured Pleasanton s future by offering land to the Western Pacific Railroad for a railroad station and landing. Planning for future growth thus became a legacy that is still embraced by this modern city of 70,000 people. Today families and tourists are attracted to Pleasanton s historic downtown, where 19thcentury buildings still stand and people stroll among its many shops and restaurants.

Author Mary-Jo Wainwright, college history instructor and local historian, selected the images for this book from the extensive archives of the Museum on Main, home of the Amador-Livermore Valley Historical Society. These historical images tell the story of Pleasanton s past from its earliest people and historic adobes to its tree-lined suburban streets and million-dollar estates. Pleasanton s dedication to preserving its past and hometown ambience while growing into a modern city has created a truly pleasant place to call home.