Resources

Historical Museums, Parks and Societies in the Northern California Region:

William B. Ida Adobe State Historical Park – Red Bluff
(www.ideaadobe.tehama.k12.ca.us)
Your direct route to the 1850's - a time of great opportunity and dramatic change at a pace that was demanding, yet genteel. First, we want to breathe life into Gold Rush history by bringing together the sights, sounds, smells, tastes and textures of the 1850's in a way that makes them feel real for visitors. Second, we want to immerse visitors in that reality so that they can experience first-hand what life was like during the Gold Rush.

Alta Schmidt House Museum – Orland (website not available)
Alta Schmidt House Museum was built in 1902. This distinctive Victorian home is owned and operated by the Orland Historical and Cultural Society. The museum is located at 936 Fourth St. and is open weekly on Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m., May through October. Tours by appointment for the museum and/or the Heritage Trail at the Glenn County Fairgrounds may be arranged by calling 530/865-9555 or 530/865-3212. The home is filled with fascinating odds and ends relating to the Orland area history. Docents answer questions about displays of historical photographs, early day fashions, late 1800s trade tools, kitchen ware, and medical memorabilia.

Bidwell Mansion – Chico (www.parks.ca.gov)
Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park is a beautiful, three story, 26 room Victorian House Museum that stands as a memorial to John and Annie Bidwell. John Bidwell was known throughout California and across the nation as an important pioneer, farmer, soldier, statesman, politician and philanthropist.

Turtle Bay Exploration Park and Museum – Redding (www.turtlebay.org)
The Chico Creek Nature Center is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization that serves as the official information and interpretive center for Bidwell Park, the 7th largest municipal park in the United States. Housed within the Center is a non-releasable living animal collection that features native animal species from Bidwell Park and other California habitats.

More information about Historical Museums, Parks and Societies is available at Resources (PDF). The file contains information about the following counties: Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Napa, Neveda, Mendocino, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sonoma, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, and Yolo.