Proudly standing in front of the Dry Creek Ranch House is Joyce Buckland, left, and Nicole Brogdon.

RIO LINDA, CA (MPG) - Tucked away off Dry Creek Road in Rio Linda is a modest white house with a whole lot of history, the Dry Creek Ranch House Museum.

Messenger Publishing Group toured the house with Rio Linda/Elverta Historical Society members: Joyce Buckland, the society’s treasurer, and Nicole Brogdon, the museum curator.

 Farm equipment dating back to 1937 is available to view at Dry Creek Ranch.

“As someone who loves and enjoys history, it has been easy for me to be passionate about preserving the history of our Rio Linda and Elverta communities,” Buckland said. “The Dry Creek Ranch House Museum holds a wealth of information about these two towns and the families who settled in them. We are happy to give private museum tours. Just call to set up an appointment and we will do our best to accommodate you.”

Museum admission is free and the property is at 6852 Dry Creek Road, Rio Linda.

 An upstairs room features a gallery of historic dresses.

The property had its fair share of owners before landing with the Rio Linda/Elverta Historical Society, according to Buckland.

“The property was originally part of the Haggin Oaks Land Grant from Mexico,” Buckland said.

 An old-school Air Force uniform is proudly displayed upstairs.

Then it became a part of the Sacramento Suburban Fruitland’s Company. A Scottish man named David Smith was the first owner and purchased 60 acres. He finished the house in 1916. Following Smith, the house went through a series of owners until the 1940s, when the Geiger family purchased the property. Under them, it operated as a dairy farm for about 12 years. The property was eventually sold to the Church of Latter-day Saints, where it was temporarily used to house missionaries and plant tomatoes.

 A small gift shop has T-shirts, books and more.

“Once it was sold again in the ‘70s to Dan Paige, the land became a problem for Sacramento County due to it being subject to flooding, so Sacramento County Regional Parks purchased the land from Dan Paige in 1994,” Buckland said.

The following year, it was leased to the Rio Linda/Elverta Historical Society, which has leased it ever since, Buckland said. The lease is free in exchange for the property upkeep.

 Furnished with vintage items, the house takes the visitor back in time.

Once acquired by the Historical Society, the Rio Linda Lions Club and local Boy Scouts helped volunteer to make the house what it is today by farming the land and restoring the house. In 1997, the local Kalal family installed what is now the Pioneer Memorial Rose Garden, which is in front of the house and is flanked by flagpoles.

 In the special exhibit room is a train lantern and coins that were once used to board the train.

Behind the house is the Founder’s Grove, a small collection of trees mostly planted by the Historical Society. Vintage farm equipment is on display outside with one of the tractors dating back to 1937. Also in the spacious yard are picnic tables, public bathrooms, benches and a firepit for group gatherings.

Inside the house, the visitor is greeted by rooms full of countless shelves containing artifacts dating back to the Civil War and beyond, all donated by local families.

 Joyce Buckland, left, and Nicole Brogdon stand at the Founders Grove.

Brogdon, while also working a full-time job, always makes time to volunteer at the house and give museum tours. With a keen attention to detail, she can explain and identify countless items in the house due to her expansive knowledge of Rio Linda history.

A room upstairs showcases the evolution of women’s fashion, including vintage dresses and shoes. In another room are various classic military uniforms, from the Marine Corps to the Air Force. The list goes on and on.

A “special exhibit room” features rotating historical items. Currently, Brogdon’s collection is on display, featuring a vintage Elvis doll and various Rio Linda memorabilia. In another room are shelves stocked with yearbooks from Rio Linda schools, as well as a myriad of books, newspapers, and photos containing more detailed history of the town.

A notable event that takes place at the Dry Creek Ranch is May’s annual Farm and Tractor Days, which usually brings in about $5,000 for the Historical Society, Buckland said. Field trips are also welcome, with Rio Linda High School FFA volunteers helping with museum tours and making snow cones for the children. Animals are usually present on those days.

So why is the museum worth a  visit?

“Visiting the museum is like a trip back in time,” Buckland said. “It is an opportunity to learn more about those who founded our community and helped to make it what it is today. It will help you to better understand what it means to live in Rio Linda and Elverta.”

The Dry Creek Ranch is also a popular place for weddings, birthdays, and other types of celebrations. To reserve the property for an event or to schedule a museum tour, call Buckland at 916-335-4359.

For more information about the Rio Linda/Elverta Historical Society and the Dry Creek Ranch House, visit https://rlehistorical.org/dry-creek-ranch-house.