Kat Sena performed Sept. 20 at the Dixon History Museum. Photo courtesy of the Dixon Historical Society

DIXON, CA (MPG) – The Dixon Historical Society welcomed musician and educator Kat Sena to the Dixon History Museum for a Sept. 20 presentation blending music, storytelling and local history.

Sena first came to know Dixon while traveling between San Francisco and Nevada to visit her father. What began as stops along the way eventually grew into an affection for the community – and even inspired one of her original songs, titled “Lost in Dixon.”

During her presentation, Sena shared original music alongside familiar American songs, weaving each selection together with stories about personal history, perseverance, education and the importance of preserving the experiences that make up a community’s collective history.

She opened with her original song “Paper and a Pen,” encouraging audience members to write down their own stories and preserve their personal histories. 

Throughout the afternoon, attendees were invited to sing along to songs including “Paddy Works on the Railway,” “I've Been Working on the Railroad,” “This Land Is Your Land” and “Oh! Susanna.”

Dixon itself also played a starring role in the program.

After researching local history, Sena learned the story of Nancy Geary, a black woman and Dixon business owner whose ice cream shop once stood at the corner of First and B streets. Inspired by Geary’s perseverance and the gathering place she created for the community, Sena wrote “The Old Corner Ice Cream Shop.” She unveiled the new song for the Dixon audience during the presentation.

A longtime music educator, Sena earned a degree in Choral Music and founded the Alamo Friendship Chorus in 1995, which recently celebrated its 30th anniversary. She spoke about the importance of music education and her own journey balancing being an educator with creating and performing her own work.

Sena recently released her seventh album, “Be the Sun.”

At the conclusion of the program, Dixon Historical Society member Pat Nicodemus presented Sena with a collection of books about Dixon history and a postcard featuring the mural outside the Dixon History Museum.

The afternoon reflected the Historical Society’s mission of preserving not only Dixon’s buildings, photographs and artifacts, but also the stories of the people who have shaped the community.

The Dixon Historical Society will continue its 2026 presentation series with a program on the Milk Farm in October, followed by a presentation on the history of the Dixon Fire Department in November. The Society is also seeking local families interested in sharing their family histories and welcomes suggestions for future historical topics and programs.

For more information about the Dixon Historical Society and Museum, visit dixonhistoricalsociety.org or stop by the museum at 125 W. A St. Admission is free. Museum hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. For more information, contact 707-693-3044 or [email protected].