"Why do some places affect us mysteriously and yet so forcefully? On a River Winding Home pursues this question in a one-of-a-kind book about a one-of-a-kind place -- Northern California's Petaluma River Watershed. Through the use of stunning photography and intimate storytelling, artist Scott Hess and writer John Sheehy provide a riveting testament to the power of place, showcasing the watershed's stunning landscapes, diverse cultural history, and shifting identity. Scott Hess, a professional Bay Area photographer and longtime Petaluma resident, provides a distinctive melding of the artist as both interpreter and chronicler. His exquisite photographs reveal the beauty and spiritual grace of the watershed's natural landscape, the bucolic nature of its working farms and ranches, and the historic charm of its river city, Petaluma. John Sheehy, an award-winning historian and Petaluma native, seamlessly blends Hess's photographic journey with stories that celebrate the watershed's colorful history, showcasing an eclectic cast of characters, ranging from the native Coast Miwok to Mexican rancheros, Gold Rush settlers, railroad barons, Swiss-Italian dairymen, Socialist egg ranchers, bootleggers, slow growth pioneers, winemakers, and farm-to-table artisans. Part rambling walking tour, part voyage to the past, On a River Winding Home is a rich paring photos and stories for place-loving people."--Back cover.