Chico History Museum upcoming events

Special Event: An Evening in Chico Vecino (Thu, October 29, 2026)

Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT

You are cordially invited to An Evening in Chico Vecino.

Join the Chico History Museum on October 29 for a special fundraiser at the Red Tavern celebrating the history of one of Chico’s oldest neighborhoods. Local historian Dave Nopel will take us back in time with stories, photographs, and fascinating history from Chico Vecino, today known as The Avenues. Enjoy seasonal bites by Red Tavern while spending an evening learning about Chico’s past, at the very place where the history unfolds.

Tickets include our Dave Nopel History Lecture on Chico Vecino, and seasonal bites curated by Red Tavern. Drinks will be available for purchase throughout the evening.

Tickets are limited to the first 50 registrants.

Haunted Buildings of Chico (Sat, October 31, 2026)

Sat, 31 Oct 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Presenter: Olivia Dion

Hearsay, balderdash, poppycock, and true. This lecture will cover the personal accounts of Chico locals who have experienced paranormal activity in our very own historical buildings of downtown Chico.

California’s Last Grizzly Bear (Sat, November 07, 2026)

Sat, 07 Nov 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Presenter: Pete Moak & Dave Nopel

Join local resident Pete Moak and prominent local historian Dave Nopel for a fascinating look into a piece of hidden Butte County history: the story of one of California’s last grizzly bears. While official records state that the California grizzly went extinct in the 1920s, local lore tells a very different story. This lecture explores the incredible firsthand accounts of Pete Moak’s father, Lyman Moak, a lifelong outdoorsman who encountered these legendary predators decades after they were thought to be gone.

Backyard Circus: The Life and Times of Grace Jr. and Arvel Victor Allread (Sat, November 14, 2026)

Sat, 14 Nov 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Presenter: Terry Allread

Discover life under the Big Top in the 1940s–50s! Join our presenter Terry Allread as he recounts his unique childhood. Terry’s parents, Grace Jr. and Arvel Victor Allread, introduced their children to such circus luminaries as Clyde Beatty, Big John Strong, and Victor Robbins. Terry recounts waking up on Saturday mornings to the melodious tones of his father Arvel playing “Entry of the Gladiators” on his baritone horn, finishing his chores like mucking out animal cages, and then playing hide-n-seek in his family’s “Backyard Circus.”

Terry Allread will be signing and selling copies of his latest book; Backyard Circus: The Life and Times of Grace Jr. and Arvel Victor Allread after the lecture.

The Maidu: Myths, Magic, and Archaeology (Sat, December 05, 2026)

Sat, 05 Dec 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Presenter: Paul Bowman

Join us for an engaging lecture with Paul Bowman as he explores "The Maidu: Myths, Magic, and Archaeology." Beginning with an overview of local prehistoric archaeology, Paul will delve into the topics of indigenous myth and magic, offering rare and fascinating insights into traditional Maiduian culture.