Historic sites now closed Mondays

The Sonoma Mission and the Vallejo home, two of Sonoma’s most treasured historic landmarks, are now closed on Mondays.

The move reflects the limited staff available to operate and maintain the properties seven days a week. A parks official said that because of a state-imposed hiring freeze, staff time has been effectively reduced by 30 percent this year.

The cutback deals only with the current budget, which runs through June. As it has been for several years, the State Parks system will likely see its funding cut for the fiscal year beginning in July. Further service and hour reductions, and even park closures, are likely throughout the statewide system, the official said.

Last year, the sites were closed on Thursdays for several months as a budget-balancing maneuver.

The two sites, officially part of Sonoma State Historic Park, will remain open Tuesdays through Sundays. The Sonoma Barracks will remain open on Mondays as it is staffed primarily by volunteers.

The cutbacks come after Sonoma was named one of the 2011 Dozen Distinctive Destinations by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.