Kelley House Museum ~ K-12 Field Trips

OVERVIEW

At the Kelley House Museum, students step back in time to explore the rich cultural and historical tapestry of the Mendocino Coast. Located in a restored 1861 home in a historic preservation district, our programs invite learners to connect with the people, places, and events that shaped this community

  • When to visit: Tuesday – Thursdays, 9am – 4pm. (Depending on the size of your group and the time of year, we may be able to host your class at other times.)
  • Group size: Up to 40. For larger classes, we recommend visiting on multiple days.
  • Tour length 1-1.5 hours long
  • Cost: $5 per student. Chaperones free. No one turned away for lack of funds.
  • Scheduling your Visit: Kindly fill out the Tour and Field Trip Request Form a minimum of two weeks (note this doesn’t guarantee we can grant your request).
  • Snacks. Students have the option to lunch or snack on the museum lawn or porch, but no food or drink will be allowed in the museum.
two boys at kelley house museum

PROGRAMS

Kelley House Museum Tour.
Best for 3rd-4th grades

Step back in time to the 19th century and become a history detective at the Kelley House Museum. Students will explore two floors furnished with intriguing artifacts and historic photographs that reveal the secrets of daily life in a bustling logging town. Before the settlers arrived, the Pomo people thrived here for thousands of years, and visitors will get a glimpse of their rich culture from the stunning basketry exhibit. Next, uncover the rugged tales of the logging era and peek into the lives of the Kelley family and their neighbors to see how they lived without modern technology (look for the Kelley daughters’ names scratched into a bedroom window!).

Historic Mendocino Walking Tour.
Best for 3rd – 8th grades

This guided walking tour invites students to explore Mendocino’s Historic Preservation District through stories about its diverse array of inhabitants, including the Pomo, Chinese, and European immigrants who shaped the town they will walk through. Younger learners can participate in a scavenger hunt-style activity that invites them to identify historic curiosities encountered along the route.  Stops include the Kelley House Museum, the Temple of Kwan Tai (one of California’s oldest Chinese temples), and the Ford House, which displays artifacts from the town’s logging history.

PROGRAMS continued …

Investigative Historian.
Best for 6th-12th graders

This field trip invites students to combine a tour of the museum with a deeper dive into the Kelley House Museum’s exhibits and archives, in order to understand how museums organize, preserve, and present information. Students learn about research methods, making connections with their local history, and drawing comparisons between their current lives and the lives of Mendocino’s past residents. Includes a tour of the Kelley House Museum exhibits and archives. Students will be introduced to selections from the Mendocino Beacon newspapers, shown proper object handling, and will be encouraged to continue initial research online through the Kelley House Museum’s research portal. With ample notice, we can try to tailor the selections to your classroom’s specific area of study.

Specialty Group Walking Tours
All ages

We offer specialty group walking tours on a variety of other topics related to Mendocino’s history, including Haunted Mendocino, Murder, She Wrote, and Historic Water Towers. These are available to your group, but have a different pricing structure as they are longer tours and require a guide. Learn more about group tours here.