The Yolo County Historical Museum
The Yolo County Historical Museum, often known as the Gibson Mansion, is a great historic house museum. Most of Mansion is interpreted in period rooms with a few temporary galleries devoted to rotating exhibits. The Museum’s mission is to collect, preserve and exhibit/interpret the historic and artistic heritage of Yolo County, so there are exhibits featuring Native American works of art as well as pieces from the Pioneer era and through the 1940s. The Mansion is on a 2.5 acre County Park, so there is space for pinicking and outdoor events. There are also native gardens and outbuildings with exhibits, such as the fully-functional blacksmith shop as well a barn with historical wood-working tools and agricultural equipment. The Yolo County Historical Museum hosts the May Festival on the 3rd Sunday of May. Visitors are invited to spend the day touring the Gibson Mansion, shopping at artisan’s booths and strolling the Museum’s gardens. Check out the blacksmith’s shop-complete with a working smithy. You can also visit our version of the Antiques Roadshow. Appraisers will be on hand providing evaluations of your attic treasures on a fee-per-item basis. Our extremely popular Plant Sale always features native plants, herbs. This year we’re bringing in more local produce and products than ever before-including regional wines for tasting. Food and beverages will abound, so eat, drink and be merry with live music on the East Stage all day long! Admission to the May Festival is free, Museum Admission is a suggested donation of $5.
A museum that has artifacts from the history of Yolo County. Admission is $2 for adults, but free for children under 12 and museum members.
Massive wooden columns , formal pediment and a uniquely original series of cut decorations spelling the name “Gibson” reflect some of the character of the ten room house that is now the Yolo County Historical Museum. This 1850′s-70′s Classical Revival home, extensively remodeled before the turn of the century, was built by William Byas Gibson and occupied by his family until 1963. It now houses rooms of furnishings depicting different styles and eras. Acquired by the County of Yolo and opened to the public on a regular basis, the house and grounds are here for your pleasure.
The Museum houses collections of furnishings and artifacts depicting the various eras from the 1850s to the 1930s. In addition to being a house museum there are changing exhibits on various subjects related to the history of Yolo County. The outbuildings contain displays of agriculture and everyday life of the same period. Feel free to visit us anytime during public hours.