History Museum, Home of Merced County Historical Society
The Courthouse Museum houses 8500 square feet of exhibits which depict the history of Merced County as well as the settlers of the Great Central Valley. Permanent exhibits include, in part: a Chinese temple with altars dating from the 1870s, a blacksmith shop, turn-of-the-century schoolroom, Yokuts Indian artifacts, mercantile room, Surveyor’s and Treasurer’s office, City’s first fire engine, and the crowning jewel: the Superior Courtroom which was in active use until 1950. The museum also has an excellent rotating exhibit program which explores history and the humanities through diverse avenues.
The museum is a primary source of history for area and state residents. Archives, an extensive photographic collection, artifacts, and preservation consulting are all available to the general public. Some services require a nominal fee. Additionally, special programming such as workshops, speakers, receptions, and booksignings are developed throughout the year, some in coordination with new exhibits. Museum gift shop has a good collection of local history books. Many of the books were published by the Merced County Historical Society.
The mission of Courthouse Museum is to collect, preserve, interpret, and share the history of Merced County.
Historical Society has published 10 books since 2002.
Greetings from Fountain City: Historic Postcards of Merced (2002)
Pioneer Genius: Charles Henry Huffman (2003)
Cooking in Merced County: A Taste of History (2004)
Homes of Old Merced: Town and Country (2005)
Ghost Towns of Merced County (2005)
California Pottery Company, Merced (2006)
Black Gold: Faith, Strength, and Determination Shaping Our Community (2007)
Le Grand History: Memories of Le Grand History Club (2007)
Dos Palos High School Reunion Books (2008)
Bik's Picks: Midcentury Merced Revisited (2010)
