Fourth of July Celebration on Ukiah Street, c. 1900. (Nannie Escola Collection, Kelley House Photographs) A southwestward view of a Mendocino Fourth of July celebration on Ukiah Street near the intersection with Kasten Street, c. 1900. Two costumed people, a woman dressed as the Goddess of Liberty (Columbia), and a man dressed as Uncle Sam, mingle with carriages and the crowd gathered on the [...]
Mendocino Fourth of July Parade, 1884. (Kelley House Photographs) The 1884 Fourth of July parade marching eastward down Mendocino's Main Street, near the corner of Kasten Street. Identified in the parade are, right to left: Michael Byrnes (Parade Marshal), aides, band, GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) Post #58, and the IOOF (Independent Order of Odd Fellows). On occasions like this, the people of [...]
Fourth of July, 1890. (McKee Collection, Kelley House Photographs) A Mendocino Fourth of July celebration, taking place in an open field known then as Bank Square, now Heider Field. A festive crowd has gathered to mark Independence Day, with Dr. James W. Milliken standing on a raised platform, reading the Declaration of Independence to the assembled townspeople. A horse-drawn wagon, filled with people and [...]
Nathaniel Smith Headstone Installed at Hillcrest Cemetery We’re honored to share that a headstone has been installed to mark the final resting place of Nathaniel Smith, who arrived in Mendocino County in the 1850s and is believed to be the first African American to settle on the Mendocino Coast. Thank you to everyone who donated to make this possible! The Kelley House Museum, with support from [...]
Perched on Little Lake Road in Mendocino, the William Mendosa House is more than just a fine example of 1920s Craftsman-style architecture; it’s also a testament to a beloved local citizen and the enduring legacy of one of the town’s pioneering Portuguese families. Built in 1923 by local carpenter Ray Valentine, the bungalow was praised at the time as “a substantial addition to the town’s homes” [...]
On April 26, 2009, the Kelley House Museum hosted Dr. Don Hahn and Dr. Jim Swallow. The pair discussed what it was like to practice medicine in Mendocino through the years. The following excerpt chronicles Dr. Hahn’s arrival in Mendocino in the mid-1960s. To watch the full discussion, visit the Kelley House Museum YouTube channel. Zacha building on Main Street, c. 1976. Photographer: Bill Wagner [...]
Plaque dedicated to Emmy Lou Packard Excerpt of From Maidens to Mavericks: Mendocino’s Women by Molly Dwyer Emmy Lou Packard's life brought together two passions: art and a commitment to social activism. Were it not for her devotion to these two enterprises, Mendocino might be very different today− dotted with development instead of the quaint village and beautiful expanse of Mendocino Headlands State Park. [...]
Mendocino Presbyterian Church, 2025. (Photographer: Robert Dominy) Mendocino Presbyterian Church Main Street, Mendocino Albert Maxwell built this beautifully preserved English Gothic structure out of native redwood, milled in Mendocino. Construction began on October 7, 1867, and the finished structure was dedicated on July 5, 1868. It is the oldest Presbyterian Church in continuous use in California and is a California Historical Landmark. The main [...]
This summer, it’s all about beer at the Kelley House Museum in Mendocino. From June 5 to September 29, 2025, the Museum invites you to explore the rich, foamy history of the Mendocino Coast’s brewing traditions in its new exhibit, On Tap: The History of Brewing on the Mendocino Coast. Whether you’re a beer enthusiast, history buff, or just curious about local culture, this exhibit promises [...]