Page 70 - North State Parent September 2022

MUSEUMS & HISTORICAL SITES NORTH STATE PARENT FAMILY RESOURCE GUIDE FALL/WINTER 2022/2023
BUTTE COUNTY
Bidwell Mansion; Chico. Learn the history of the mansion built in 1865 & the sur- rounding area at the visitor center. Take a guided tour of the 3-story, 26-room home of two of Chico’s founders, John & Annie Bidwell. bidwellmansionassociation.com. 525 Esplanade. (530)895-6144.
Bolt’s Antique Tool Museum; Oroville. Features the largest-known documented collection of hand tools in the US, with more than 12,000 items on display. Group discounts & tours available. Children ages 12 & under free. boltsantiquetools.com. 1650 Broderick St. (530)538-2528.
Chico Air Museum; Chico Municipal Air- port. Great fun for all ages. Educates and inspires about aviation and the history of flight. Features outdoor & indoor displays of aviation artifacts, full-sized historic air- crafts. World Class Aviation Speaker Series. Special events by arrangement; group visits, school field trips. Open Thu-Sun: June-October, 9am-2pm, November-May, 10am-3pm. Free. chicoairmuseum.org. 165 Ryan Ave. (530)345-6468.
Chico History Museum; Chico. Housed in the historic Carnegie Library building in downtown Chico; features both presti- gious traveling exhibits & exhibits focusing on Chico & Butte County history. Group rates & tours available. chicohistorymuse- um.org. 141 Salem St. (530)891-4336. Chico Children’s Museum. With almost 7,000 square feet of exhibit space, the mu- seum is focused on encouraging children and their caregivers to connect with imag- inative play. Over the fall and winter, visi- tors will find an updated sensory room for a calming, therapeutic space for children; improvements to the camping room and
a new play area. Walk-in admission Tu-Thu, 10am-1pm; Fri-Sun, 10am-4pm. Two-hour private group visits available Mondays. Special overnight trips and after-hours pri- vate events available by request. Birthday parties Sat & Sun, 10am-noon & 2-4pm by reservation. info@chicochildrensmuseum. org, chicochildrensmuseum.org, 325 Main St. (530)809-1492.
Chinese Temple & Museum Complex; Oroville. Built in 1863, the temple is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It is both a museum and active temple. The complex includes 3 temples, a Tapestry Hall displaying an extensive collection of embroidered tapestries, costumes & more; the Fong Lee Company Building displaying artifacts from the medicinal herb sales
and shop of the Chan family. Group & classroom tours available. Children ages 12 & under free. cityoforoville.org. 1500 Broderick St. (530)538-2496.
Gateway Science Museum; Chico.
Visitors to Gateway Science Museum are welcomed by our saber-tooth cat and short-faced bear fossil replicas. These ice age mammals guide us through a paleon- tology exhibit, taking us far back in time to the Triassic era when the North State was under ancient sea. Check out the Discov- ery Room and meet our resident paleon- tologist, Sean. Our newest exhibit, From Earthquakes to Epidemics, takes guests
through the impact of recent and historic disasters in California. These major events range from fires to floods, earthquakes to droughts, the 1918 flu to the COVID-19 pandemic. From Earthquakes to Epidemics will be at Gateway until December 17, and then we will follow Water’s Extreme Jour- ney in Spring 2023. csuchico.edu/gateway. 625 Esplanade. (530)898-4121.
Gold Nugget/ Depot Museum; Paradise. An extensive collection of Maidu Indian artifacts. On the grounds, you will see a blacksmith shop, gold sluices and a miner’s cabin, a schoolhouse and a covered bridge that spans the width of a rushing creek. Museum is cur- rently undergoing renovations, so please call or updated information. Free. gnmuseum.art. 475 Pearson Rd. (530)762-2613.
Lott Home; Oroville. The C.F. Lott Home in Sank Park was built in 1856 by Charles F. Lott, gold rush pioneer, California senator and judge. The house and garden encom- pass an entire city block. Take a guided tour of the Victorian home, hear capti- vating stories of the Lott family and their importance to early California history. View original furnishings, paintings, clothes, silver and more. Group & classroom tours available. Children ages 12 & under free. cityoforoville.org. 1067 Montgomery St. (530)538-2401.
Museum of Northern California Art (monca); Chico. Housed in the former Veteran’s Memorial Hall, this new muse- um displays rotating exhibits to make art accessible and promote awareness of Northern California artists. $5/adults; children free. monca.org. 900 Esplanade. (530)487-7272.
National Yo-Yo Museum; Chico. This small world-class museum houses Big Yo, the world’s largest working wooden yo-yo; & the biggest public display of yo-yos & yo-yo memorabilia. Includes a vintage toy display. Free. nationalyoyo.org. Inside Bird in Hand toy store, 320 Broadway. (530)893-0545. Oregon City School; Table Mountain. The oldest one-room school in Butte County. A California Historical Landmark, Oregon City was one of the 1st mining camps in
the county, established in 1848 by a party of Oregonians who came to California. Also visit the nearby Oregon City covered bridge and tour the Cherokee Museum
(by appt.) buttecountyhistory.com. 2100 Oregon Gulch Rd. (530)533-9418. Paradise Depot Museum; Paradise. A full- sized restored caboose in addition to a 30- foot working HO gauge model of the Butte County Railroad. Kids have a blast running a button-operated model that represents the 33-mi. rail line that ran between Chico & Stirling City. Free. gnmuseum.art. 5570 Black Olive Dr. (530)762-2613.
Patrick Ranch Museum; Durham. Dedicated to enhancing the understanding & appreci- ation of the area’s rich agricultural heritage. See exhibits and tour the historic Glenwood Farmhouse, built in 1877. Fun and education- al annual events include the California Nut Festival (Apr.), the Country Faire & Threshing Bee (June) and Autumn Fest (Oct.). School & group tours available. patrickranchmuseum. org. 10381 Midway. (530)342-4359.
Pioneer History Museum; Oroville. First opened in 1932 by the Native Sons & Daughters of the Golden West and now operated by the City of Oroville, this museum was built as an oversized replica of a 49er’s cabin. The original building has been enlarged to hold 6,000-sq.-ft. of historic treasures. cityoforoville.org. 2332 Montgomery St. (530)538-2529.
Valene L. Smith Museum of Anthropolo- gy; Chico. New exhibitions annually, both in person & virtual. Offers family programs and school tours. Call for more informa- tion. Free. csuchico.edu/anthmuseum. In the Meriam Library on the Chico State Uni- versity campus, room 180. (530)898-5397.
GLENN COUNTY
Honeybee Discovery Center; Orland. The Honeybee Discovery Center teaches the importance pollinators, especially honey- bees, play in the environment. One out of every three bites we eat is thanks to a bee.
Learn more about the history of beekeep- ing and the vital role pollinators play in our food supply through our immersive bee experiences. Now Open! New HONEY! Ex- hibit. Discover how honey is produced, see the anatomy of a bee up close, taste honey from different nectar sources and watch the honeybee’s work! Admission $3 adults, $2 kids ages 5-12. honeybeediscoverycen- ter.org. 501 Walker Street. (530)805-BUZZ.
NEVADA COUNTY
Nevada County Narrow Gauge Rail- road Museum; Nevada City. Dedicated to the preservation of local transportation history & artifacts from the narrow-gauge railroad era. Docent-led historical tours of the museum, railyard & restoration shop. See wooden rail cars & more, including
an 1875 Baldwin locomotive that hauled lumber, passengers & freight, then became a movie engine at Universal Studios in Hollywood. School & group tours available. Check website for most up to date hours. Free admission. ncngrrmuseum.org. 5 Kidder Ct. (530)470-0902.
Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park; Nevada City. Visit the 3,000-acre park which encompasses the town of North Bloomfield & the historic Diggins site & is home to California’s largest hydraulic mine. There are many hiking, camping & fishing opportuni- ties in the summer months & snowshoeing in the winter. Check the website for updat- ed weather restrictions & guidelines. Search the park name at parks.ca.gov. 23579 North Bloomfield Rd. (530)265-2740.
OREGON
Medford Railroad Park; Medford, Or.
Four railroad clubs operate this 7-acre
site featuring full-size train cars, caboose, hopper car, locomotive, HO scale model track & trains and operating outdoor gar- den railway. Free train rides to see bridges, waterfalls, tunnels and hills. Children love the Thomas the Train loop led by Thomas & Percy. Private train parties available. Open the 2nd & 4th Sunday of every month
from April thru October. facebook.com/ Medfordrailroadpark. 799 Berrydale Ave. (541)613-1638.
National Historic Oregon Trail Interpre- tive Center; Baker City, OR. The museum us currently undergoing renovations. Please check the website for updated information and address of temporary museum. This Center tells the story of Or- egon Trail pioneers, explorers, miners and settlers of the frontier west Living history demonstrations, interpretive programs, ex- hibits, multi-media presentations, special events & more than four miles of interpre- tive trails. Free. oregontrail.blm.gov. 2015 Main St. (541)239-5603 or (541)523-1843. ScienceWorks Hands-On Museum; Ashland, OR. Hands-on exhibits & displays promoting the exploration of science and the arts. A multi-sensory environment for all ages. Summer camps, field trips, birth-
70 North State Parent Family Resource Guide Fall/Winter 2022/2023
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