The Kelley House Museum is proud to present an online exhibit in conjunction with our current exhibit “Northern Pomo: Mendocino’s First People.” "Portraits from North American Indian Life," Edward Curtis, Promontory Press, 1972. Explore the history and rich culture of the Northern Pomo, who have lived on the Mendocino Coast for thousands of years. Discover the Pomo language, read about early coastal villages, admire [...]
Meeting members of old Mendocino families is always a delight at the Kelley House. Previous residents, who are often only names and dates on our index cards, come alive when their descendants return to the museum to learn more about their ancestry. Theresa Vanni Motroni and her sister, Lisa Vanni Melin, visited back in 2012 in order to get a fuller picture of their great-great-grandparents, John [...]
A Carleton Watkins photograph of the John and Susan Chalfant house, which was located near the southeast corner of Lansing and Main Street in Mendocino. The people in the foreground are probably Susan Chalfant with her daughter, Mattie. Susan's house was very similar to the Ford House, located a few hundred feet to the west and occupied by her sister Martha's family. Alice Earl Wilder [...]
A northeastward view of Mendocino's Main Street from The Point on the Headlands, taken between 1968 and 1972 by Eastman's Studio, Susanville, California. In the foreground are wooden remnants of the structures that once occupied this lumber company shipping place. Some of the upright parts embedded in the ground may have been used by unknown sculptors to create totem or Tiki-type posts that persisted for decades [...]
Henry Shaw at the Mendocino Centennial Celebration, 1952. A frequent participant in local parades, Shaw’s striking appearance - draped in fur skins, complemented by a long white beard and flowing hair - earned him admiration as the embodiment of a primitive man. Born in Liverpool, England in 1880, Henry immigrated to the United States in the early 1900s, settling in Elk in 1906. He was a [...]
Dick's Place, Mendocino, California. December 2024. (Photographer: Robert Dominy) Today @11AM! Walking Tours of Historic Mendocino - Join our expert docents for a stroll and lively commentary. You’ll pass by early pioneer homes, historic meeting places, and buildings that make up the the Mendocino Historic District. Holiday Tour Schedule.
Heron at Kelley House Pond, December 2024. (Photographer: Robert Dominy) Today @11AM! Walking Tours of Historic Mendocino - Join our expert docents for a stroll and lively commentary. You’ll pass by early pioneer homes, historic meeting places, and buildings that make up the the Mendocino Historic District. Holiday Tour Schedule.
Photograph of the Portuguese men's organization known as I. D. E. S. (Irmandade di Espirito Santo, Brotherhood of the Holy Ghost). In 1910 the membership roster noted there were 73 members. This organization had its own marching band and drill team, as shown in the photo. They are standing on Main Street in Mendocino in front of Dr. Carl Vincent Whited's bungalow-style home, which houses Prentice [...]
Mendocino lost one of its earliest structures in 1936, when the “Company Barn” succumbed to flames. The 70-year-old landmark, originally built as a skating rink, had served a variety of roles over the decades, reflecting the town’s evolving needs. Situated south of the intersection of Lansing and the now-defunct Old Coast Road, the barn was fully engulfed when the fire was discovered. The volunteer fire company [...]
The Navy dirigible, Shenandoah, over Mendocino Bay, 1924. The Shipping Point can be seen in the background. (Gift of Emery Escola) A sight unlike anything seen before captivated Mendocino residents in 1924. The Navy dirigible Shenandoah, a colossal airship spanning 680 feet, glided majestically over the town at an altitude of 500 feet. Having departed San Diego the day before, the airship’s journey along [...]