South of Main, Discovering the Lost Buildings of the Mendocino Headlands

2020 WINTER / SPRING EXHIBIT: SOUTH OF MAIN, OPENS JANUARY 24 THROUGH MAY 18, 2020. 

Our next show will use historical photos, maps and artifacts to tell the story of that part of downtown Mendocino located on the south side of Main Street. Once a coastal prairie, then a bustling rail and lumberyard ringed by stores and houses, it is now devoid of buildings and known as the Mendocino Headlands State Park. The exhibit will present the history of this important Mendocino destination and answer the often-asked question – What was there before?

We are coordinating this exhibit with the Ford House Visitor’s Center, which has walking tours of the Headlands that emphasize the pre-history and ecology of the area. During the duration of the four-month exhibit, we are considering doing special walking tours that would focus on the buildings, the businesses, and the people who lived and worked there.