Mendocino Headlands State Park

Visitor CenterTrail ImprovementsRepairs

Jun 7

Written By Torrey Douglass

Park Improvements & Projects:

Operation of Ford House Visitor Center
Replacement of boards at Heeser fenceline
Repairs to Portaguese Beach staircase
Support for remodel of Ford House restroom (the only public restroom in the village of Mendocino) which will feature exquisite murals from 3 contemporary Pomo artists
New Ford House sign
Maintenance of Ford House gardens
Restoration of historic Ford House including new roof (2012) and new hardwood floors (2017)
Scale Model of 1890 Mendocino at the Ford House.

Ford House Visitor Center

Open 11am-4pm, everyday

Download the Ford House brochure

The Ford House Museum and Visitor Center, listed on the National Historic Register, is located in the Mendocino Headlands State Park. The park surrounds the picturesque town of Mendocino and sits on the rugged Mendocino County shoreline where the Big River empties into the Pacific. Miles of trails wind along the cliffs, giving the casual explorer spectacular views of sea arches, hidden grottoes, secluded beaches, and trails up into the redwood forest.

The Ford House Museum and Visitor Center is both a historical Museum Circa 1854 as well as the official visitor center for the village of Mendocino where you can find travel information, pamphlets, brochures, a gift shop, and a very knowledgeable and friendly docents to answer any questions you may have.

Displays feature a detailed diorama depicting what Mendocino looked like in 1890, as well as artifacts and tools used by the loggers in the 1800’s. Several works of art by Emmy Lou Packard, who was a friend to Diego Rivera and Frieda Kahlo, show the inspiration she received while residing in Mendocino in the late 1950’s. There are also two displays of china used by Martha Ford, the first woman to reside in this historic home, from 1854 to 1872.

Seasonal displays include:

Gray whale migration exhibit: January-March
Wildflower exhibit: April to June
California Coastal Commission’s Youth Art and Poetry: July and August
Pygmy forest exhibit: September and October
Mushroom exhibit: November and December