The Schultz complex actually has three major buildings. First the ice rink, including the Warm Puppy Cafe. Charles Schultz was from Minnesota and missed not having a place to ice skate or play hockey, so he had the Ice Arena built for the city of Santa Rosa. Built very close to his office, he would start out the day at the Cafe with coffee, muffin, and watching the skaters. He had a table reserved just for him by the fireplace which is still there today.
After lunch at the Warm Puppy Cafe, I went over to the museum itself. Among original cartoon frames of Peanuts cartoons, is a reproduction of C.M.S.' office with his desk, drawing table, and bookcases with a variety of titles on a variety of subjects within them. Mr. Schultz was widely-read, and in a movie-interview shown felt his funny ideas had to come, in part, from his love for reading.
To me, the most impressive item in the museum, is a mural wall black and white outline drawing of Lucy holding the football for Charlie Brown. This wall is made from 3,588 individual strips arranged in such a way to make this mural.
For a long-time lover of Charlie Brown and the Gang, this museum was a real treat. I remember when I first heard about it, and the comic strip mural, I said to myself, I need to go there someday. Well, yesterday was that day. What a joy.
The third part of the complex, of course, is the inevitable gift shop. Nuff said about that.
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