The Wappo Indians

The Native Americans known as the Wappo were some of the earliest inhabitants of Northern California and are believed to have settled in the Napa Valley beginning around 2000 B.C.  The Wappo made flour from acorn and also used roots, bulbs, and grasses in their diet.  They also fished and hunted for deer, elk and antelope to survive.  Their houses were dome-shared structures, made of grass thatch over bent poles.  Known for their basket making skills, the Wappo were a peaceful people with deep respect for their elders and devotion to their children.  By 1855, fewer than 500 Wappo remained in the Napa Valley.