Our Mission 

Mendocino County Museum is dedicated to preserving and interpreting its museum collections for the purpose of educating and inspiring awareness of the peoples, communities, and history of Mendocino County for the enjoyment and benefit of County residents and visitors.

View our full Mission Statement here.

Strategic Plan

In May of 2023 the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors approved the Museum five-year Strategic Plan. The purpose of the Strategic Plan is to identify and communicate comprehensive actions needed to ensure the Museum’s offerings meet the needs of our community now and into the future.

Museum Strategic Plan (PDF)

More Than a Land Acknowledgment

Since 1972, the Mendocino County Museum has been committed to serving the public through the stewardship of, and access to, our collections. We are dedicated to preserving and interpreting our collections and inspiring awareness of the peoples, communities, and history of our county, and that starts with acknowledging that the first stewards of the land in Mendocino County were the Indigenous Peoples.

We respectfully acknowledge that the Mendocino County Museum is located on the ancestral lands of the Indigenous Peoples of the Little Lake Valley. Mendocino County was built upon the unceded territory of unique and distinct tribes, both federally recognized and unrecognized, including but not all encompassing, the Northern Pomo, Central Pomo, Southern Pomo, Coastal Pomo, Noyo, Manchester-Point Arena Band of Pomo Indians, Coast Yuki, Yuki, Huchnom, Sinkyone, Wailaki, the Wailakis of the Eel River, Yokayo, and Cahto People. We further acknowledge those who were forced here and are now part of the Round Valley Indian Tribes including the Pit River, Nomlaki, and Concow People.

The Native Peoples of Mendocino County are past, present and future stewards of this land. We recognize that the establishment of the Museum and the broader history of colonization have had harmful impacts on Native Americans and their cultures. We are committed to learning from these injustices and working towards a more equitable future.

We honor Native American heritage and strive to tell the accurate history of these tribal communities, including the displacement, migration, settlement, and the attempted genocide that decimated much of our Indigenous populations. This land acknowledgment is a starting point for our ongoing journey towards truth, reconciliation, respect, and healing. We are committed to deepening our understanding of the rich Indigenous Historyand Culture. Through this acknowledgement we recognize their sovereignty, and we willsupport and advocate it through the following means:

We will:

Actively seek out opportunities to learn from tribal scholars, elders, community members, and lifeways experts. We will incorporate their perspectives into our exhibits, programs, and educational materials.

Support the Native Peoples of Mendocino County: We will partner with Indigenous communities, organizations, and individuals to co-create meaningful programs and exhibitions that reflect their voices and stories.

Educate the public: We will use our resources to educate visitors about the history of the Indigenous Peoples of Mendocino County. We will challenge harmful stereotypes and promote understanding and respect for their culture.

Encourage all visitors to consider the history of this land and the people who have called it home.