About the Robert Louis Stevenson Public Art Project
At the historic Calistoga Depot, where Napa Valley’s past meets its vibrant present, we are bringing history to life through public art. The Robert Louis Stevenson Public Art Project is dedicated to honoring the legacy of one of the world’s most celebrated authors—Robert Louis Stevenson—and his wife, Fanny Osbourne Stevenson, whose love story and time in the region left a lasting mark.
Our vision is both meaningful and enduring: to install life-sized bronze statues of Robert and Fanny Stevenson, along with their dog, ChuChu. RLS and Fanny are seated on a Victorian era bench, inviting visitors to pause, reflect, and connect with their story. The installation will serve as an interactive and inspiring tribute to the couple’s time in the Napa Valley and Stevenson’s enduring contributions to literature.
This is a community-driven initiative, more than a year in the making, and organized as a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Every donation helps bring this vision to life. With your support, we can create a cultural landmark that celebrates literature, history, and the timeless power of storytelling.
Why This Project Matters
More about the Stevensons time in Napa Valley, check out these two books.
Public art tells a story. It reflects our shared history, sparks conversation, and creates meaningful places where people connect. The Robert Louis Stevenson Public Art Project will do just that—offering a space at the Calistoga Depot where readers, writers, and dreamers can pause, reflect, and honor one of literature’s most adventurous spirits.
But this project is about more than just a statue. It’s about preserving cultural heritage, enhancing one of Napa Valley’s most historic landmarks, and creating a public space that invites curiosity, imagination, and connection.
Robert Louis Stevenson and Fanny Osbourne Stevenson spent time in the Calistoga region, most famously honeymooning in a cabin on the slopes of Mt. St. Helena. That experience helped shape Stevenson’s writing and ties him—and Fanny—deeply to this place.
Your support brings their story full circle—making Calistoga a place where literature, history, and art live on for generations to come.