Shadelands Ranch Museum 2660 Ygnacio Valley Road • Walnut Creek • CA 94598

Stately shade trees tower above the lawn, gardens and terrace surrounding the former Penniman home at Shadelands Ranch Museum. From its curved glass bay windows to its classical white columns and wraparound veranda, the 1903 Colonial Revival house reflects the refinement and elegance of a bygone era when the handsome two-story home was the heart of a large fruit ranch in the Ygnacio Valley.

Today, Shadelands is lovingly maintained by the Walnut Creek Historical Society and the City of Walnut Creek. Citrus, pomegranate, walnut and quince still grow among the sycamores and redwoods shading the aptly named property. The fruit trees, along with the herb and vegetable gardens planted on the site, also serve as a reminder of Shadelands' rural past. While strolling the paths leading toward the patio and garden at the back of the house, it's easy to imagine the gracious hospitality that was once extended to guests of the ranch over 100 years ago. These days, events at Shadelands are held outdoors with the carefully restored house providing a charming backdrop.

On the expansive lawn at the back of the house, couples exchange vows in a gazebo encircled by roses. The garden setting is lovely on its own, or can be easily decorated to suit your taste. A spacious barked area along the side of the house is shaded by huge oak trees and outfitted with picnic tables, offering a venue with a more rustic feel. For an evening wedding, tiny lights can be woven through the trees, adding an enchanting ambiance to the occasion.

After the ceremony, the celebration continues on the adjoining patio. The terrace is large enough to accommodate tables for the reception and a DJ. Or, in keeping with the turn-of-the-(last)-century atmosphere, you might want to hire a band to play in the gazebo and have your guests dance on the patio.

Access to the inside of the house is limited to the kitchen, which is available as a dressing room or as a preparation site for the caterer. As committed as Shadelands is to keeping the ranch authentic to its early 20th-century style, the "old-fashioned" kitchen comes with a new gas range masquerading as a black wood-burning stove and a refrigerator camouflaged with wood paneling. Modern restrooms are adjacent to the new barn, just behind the circa 1902 water tank house and worker's cabin that border the garden.

Of the many reasons to hold your wedding and reception at the nonprofit Shadelands Ranch Museum, the most satisfying may be that the money you spend here goes toward preserving the history of Walnut Creek for future generations. Of course, at the same time, you and your betrothed will be making a little history of your own.