Step Inside a Piece of Sacramento Valley History
At the heart of Patrick Ranch Museum stands Glenwood Farmhouse, an impressive farmhouse built in 1877 and now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. For generations, this stately home stood amid the agricultural landscape between Chico and Durham, witnessing the growth and transformation of farming and ranching in the Sacramento Valley.
Today, Glenwood Farmhouse is one of the many historic and educational experiences visitors can discover while exploring Patrick Ranch. Step inside and experience the people, traditions, and agricultural heritage that helped shape this remarkable part of Northern California.
A Grand 19th-Century Farmhouse
With approximately 5,000 square feet of living space, 14 rooms, five chimneys, and nine fireplaces, Glenwood Farmhouse reflects the scale and character of a prosperous California agricultural home of its era.
The farmhouse has been restored and interpreted to represent an earlier period when Glenwood was at the height of its grandeur, social activity, and influence. Its architecture, furnishings, and surroundings help tell a larger story about rural life and the families who built their livelihoods from the fertile lands of the Sacramento Valley.
The Home of the Patrick Family
Glenwood Farmhouse eventually became the home of William Garrison Patrick and Hester Grimm Patrick, the last owners of Patrick Ranch.
William and Hester shared a deep appreciation for local history and championed its documentation, preservation, and understanding throughout their lives. After William’s death in 1981, Hester continued to care for the Ranch and its history.
In 2001, Hester bequeathed the home and surrounding acreage for the benefit of the community, helping ensure that future generations would have a place to discover the agricultural, social, and cultural history of the Sacramento Valley.
Inside Glenwood Farmhouse
Walking through Glenwood Farmhouse provides a personal connection to the Ranch’s history. The interior contains Hester Patrick’s furniture, antiques, and artifacts, allowing visitors to see objects connected directly to the people who called the Ranch home.
Historic photographs, farm records, manuals, furnishings, and other materials preserved by Patrick Ranch Museum provide additional glimpses into everyday life on the Ranch and the agricultural community that surrounded it.
A Window Into the Valley's Agricultural Families
Glenwood represents more than the story of a single family. Patrick Ranch Museum uses the historic farmhouse and its collections to explore the lives of agricultural families throughout the region.
The stories of contemporary ranching families, including the Morehead, Durham, Burdick, Troxel, and Bidwell families, help place Glenwood within the broader history of agriculture and settlement in the Sacramento Valley.
Preserving the Stories of the Sacramento Valley
Glenwood Farmhouse is an important part of Patrick Ranch Museum’s mission to preserve and interpret the agricultural history of the Sacramento Valley, including its social, cultural, and economic dimensions.
But the story continues beyond the walls of the farmhouse. The surrounding barns, fields, gardens, agricultural equipment, historic artifacts, and centuries-old Valley Oaks help visitors understand the larger relationship between the people who lived here and the land that sustained them.
Tour Glenwood Farmhouse
Step inside Glenwood Farmhouse during your visit to Patrick Ranch Museum and experience one of the Ranch’s most significant historic spaces. Explore its rooms, furnishings, artifacts, and stories, then continue outside to discover the many other exhibits and experiences found throughout the property.
Glenwood Farmhouse Tour Hours
Saturday & Sunday
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
