The Chico Museum, at 141 Salem Street in the old Carnegie Library building downtown, covers the history of Chico and the surrounding region from the indigenous Mechoopda Maidu people through the ranching and farming history of the Sacramento Valley. The building itself — a handsome 1904 Carnegie-funded library — is worth a look.
Exhibits cover the city's development as an agricultural centre, the establishment of the university, and the experience of Chinese and Japanese communities in the valley during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The museum is small enough to do in an hour and is a good introduction to the historical context of the region. Open Thursday through Sunday; admission is free or by donation.