 |
| Landmark #123 | Tuolumne County | Visited: June 27, 2015 | Plaque? YES! 🙂 |
| What is it? | Columbia State Historic Park has been very well preserved and is still a fabulous destination in Gold Country! |
| What makes it historical? | THE GUIDE SAYS: Columbia, the “Gem of the Southern Mines,” became a town of 4,000 to 5,000 in the 1850s, following the discovery of gold here by the Hildreth party March 27, 1850. Gold shipments, estimated at $87,000,000, declined rapidly after 1858, but Columbia never became a ghost town. Columbia State Historic Park was created in 1945 to preserve its historic buildings and sites.
OTHER TIDBITS: Columbia boasts the largest collection of Gold Rush era brick buildings in California! It was a diverse society with miners from all over the world, but many were forced to leave after the passing of the Foreign Miners Tax, which charged $20/month (about $593/month by today’s standards) to every miner born outside the United States! Nevertheless, by 1853, Columbia was one of California’s largest cities with a population of between 25,000 and 30,000! Today, thanks to careful preservation, this is a charming place for shopping and dining, where you can even sample the local sarsaparilla! This landmark is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places! |
| How can I Help the Helpers? | HERE’S HOW:
|
| Where is this place? | LISTED DIRECTIONS: Columbia State Historic Park NW corner of Washington and Broadway Sts Columbia, CA 95310 ANNOTATIONS: From Los Angeles: ~333mi (536km) — 5.6hrs |
| When should I go? | The town itself never officially closes, but most businesses are open from 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM! |
