The 1838 California Expedition marks the first successful scientific venture for the self-taught naturalist Marcus Kelli. O’er the Gilded Shores presents genuine artifacts and preserved specimens that provide a personal glimpse of pre gold rush California wilderness. Finding ourselves at the intersection of human progress and the necessity of conserving our wild spaces, the Marcus Kelli Collection aims to inspire a strong sense of wonder about the natural world.  By sharing Marcus Kelli’s stories and experiences, the Museum hopes to preserve the mentality of wonder and stewardship for our future by investigating our past.

The Marcus Kelli Collection is a small museum founded in 2010 which aims to restore the 19th century amateur naturalist's field work collection.