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: Friday–Sunday, 11am–3pm.
Historic Walking Tours
Our walking tours have been described as “the perfect way to get a sense of the cast of characters who helped shape the eclectic town of Mendocino.” On our Historic District tour, visit New England-style pioneer homes and learn about Mendocino’s rich cultural heritage. On our Haunted Mendocino tour you’ll stop at the hideouts of Mendocino’s well-known specters, and learn a little of the town’s history along the way. Our Murder, She Wrote tour takes you to over a dozen filming locations from the hit TV show starring Angela Lansbury. Tours last up to 2 hours, depart weekly, and cost $25 per person.
Exhibit Spotlight!
A WOMAN’S PLACE WAS EVERYWHERE
How Working Women Shaped Mendocino
Exhibit Runs through March 29, 2026
While men wielded the axes that built the town of Mendocino, women built the community that made it last. Look beyond the big trees and lumber mills to discover the vibrant world of “women’s work.” Through their own diaries, photos, and oral histories, this exhibit tells the lesser-known stories of entrepreneurs, nurses, artists, teachers, madams, and philanthropists who laid the foundation for the Mendocino we know today.
Coming Soon!
CONSERVATION FOREVER
50 Years of Mendocino Land Trust
Exhibit runs April 2nd, 2026 – June 1st, 2026
Celebrate five decades of Mendocino Land Trust’s remarkable conservation legacy. This exhibit reveals “behind-the-scenery” stories through archival photos and documents that show exactly how your favorite trails, wildlife habitats, and hidden beaches were acquired and continue to be preserved. Learn more.
Opening Reception: Saturday, April 11th, 2026, 4pm – 5:30pm, Free but RSVP|
Walk The Big River Trail: Saturday, May 16th, 2026, 1:30pm – 3:00pm Free but RSVP
Whale Festival in March
Mendocino Whale War Exhibit
Exhibit: March 6th – 29th, 2026
The Boy Who Talks To Whales Viewing
Saturday, March 7th, 4:00pm – 5:30pm
tickets online or at door: $10
Did you know that the Mendocino Whale Festival started as an act of protest against commercial whaling? Visit the Kelley House Museum during March for a special exhibit about the Mendocino Whale War, started by a group of locals who launched the first Whale Festival to educate the public about the plight of endangered whales on the coast. Join the Kelley House on March 7th for a special screening of the 1975 classic film, The Boy Who Talked to Whales.
Fundraiser!
MURDER, SHE WROTE FESTIVAL
Friday, May 1st – Sunday, May 3rd, 2026
Festival Passes for 2026 are SOLD OUT! We do have a few tickets available to single events, as well as events that are open to the general public. Learn more. To hear about future festivals when they go on sale, Sign up for our newsletter.
Featured Item ~ 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
Mendocino’s Hard-Working Women
It’s Women’s History Month and the final weeks of the exhibit “A Woman’s Place Was Everywhere: How Working Women Shaped Mendocino” at the Kelley House. This exhibit tells the lesser-known stories of entrepreneurs, nurses, artists, teachers, madams, and philanthropists who laid the foundation for the Mendocino we know today. The women featured are only a [...]
The Kelley House Museum is a 501c(3) non-profit educational corporation, tax ID number 94-2277534.