Welcome to the Kelley House Museum
This historic home and research center is located in Mendocino, California on the scenic north coast. Built in 1861 by William Kelley, the house overlooks the ocean and is surrounded by gardens filled with flowers and lawn. The museum, along with docent-led walking tours of the historic preservation district, invites visitors to step back in time and imagine life in a bustling, 19th century logging town.
Kelley House Museum is open: Thursday–Monday, 11am–3pm.
Historic District Walking Tours
Join one of our walking tours, described as “the perfect way to get a sense of the cast of characters who helped shape the eclectic town of Mendocino.” Visit New England-style pioneer homes, learn why Mendocino was known as the city of water towers, and discover the secrets of the iconic “Time and the Maiden” statue. Enjoy Mendocino’s rich cultural heritage, from the Pomo tribe that lived here for thousands of years, to the European and Chinese immigrants who built the town you see today. Narrated, self-guided tours are also available to download on your smartphone.
Tours last 2 hours, depart several times per week, and cost $25 per person.
Summer Walking Tours
July & August Tour Schedule
Haunted Mendocino, Wednesdays @ 5pm
Historic District, Saturdays & Sundays @ 11am, Tuesdays @ 2pm
Murder, She Wrote, Thursdays @ 11am
$25 per person, $15 under twelve
See our calendar to book your tickets.
All tours depart from Kelley House Museum.
Exhibit Spotlight
Paint the Town: The Art of Kevin Milligan
May 30th – September 30th, 2024
Thursdays through Mondays, 11am – 3pm
Mendocino is a playground for artists, and Kevin Milligan’s gorgeous oil paintings capture the breathtaking beauty and historic charm that have beguiled so many. “Mendocino took me by surprise,” says Milligan. “I’d never seen any pictures of it, had no idea there was such a place anywhere in California: Victorian architecture mixed with seaside cottages and wild-west false fronts, set against grassy fields and the ever-changing Pacific.” Milligan’s paintings are showcased alongside black and white photos of the historic buildings and landscapes that inspired them.
Featured Book ~ From KHM Store
Experience Kelley House
Book Store. Our wide assortment of local history books delve into topics as diverse as movies filmed in Mendocino, shipbuilding, early architecture, and Native American history.
Research. Search our collections or let our expert staff help. Our climate-controlled storage and research facility is home to over 150 years of Mendocino coastal history.
Newsletter. Stay current and connected with the living history of Kelley House Museum as we uncover new stories, host events, and feature special collections.
Donate. Please join us in our efforts to preserve and share Mendocino’s history. Become a member or make a donation today.
Making History Blog
Kelley’s Girl by Katy Tahja and Karen McGrath
The Kelley House Museum loves a good history mystery, and recently we had a query about a redwood sculpture named “Kelley’s Girl.” The correspondent said all he knew was that his parents had purchased the statue in Mendocino in the early 1970s. Did Kelley’s Girl have something to do with Mendocino’s Kelley family, or did [...]
The Kelley House Museum is a 501c(3) non-profit educational corporation, tax ID number 94-2277534.