Columbia State Historic Park features the largest single collection of existing gold rush-era structures in California. The structures have become a variety of shops, boutiques, restaurants, ice cream parlors, candy stores, saloons, and a even a tea house. Volunteer docents are dressed in 1850s era costumes and are strategically stationed to answer questions and watch over the park. We were fortunate to visit on a day when Halloween was being celebrated and the crowd was having fun, kids were trick-or-treating (docents handed out candy) and the weather was perfect.
The map gives you an idea of just how large the park is and the many structures still open. Parking is ample and free. Admission is free! It is easy to spend a full day here.
Photograph taken early before people began showing up.
The blacksmith's shop is a working shop where visitors can watch horseshoes being hammered into shape.
A docent is stationed in the general store to answer any questions. I spoke to several docents and they love their volunteer opportunity, meet regularly, become experts on the history and significance of early gold mines in California and are happy to see people at the park. This gentleman was proud to dust and keep the store properly arranged. He said he was always looking for the right items to add to the store, changing up the inventory just like the original proprietor would have done.
He played for hours. The sound of his whistle carried a long way down the main street.
I believe this image was taken inside the tea house. There was a significant Chinese population in many mining camps and discrimination against them was common. Rooms such as this one had interpretive signs to help visitors better understand mining what life might have been like in a mining camp in the 1850s.
A young trick-or-treater waiting in line.
Docents strolling the main street and greeting visitors.
It appears that there is still activity in the theater.
You can go inside, dress up in 1850s period clothing and have your photograph taken. It was a popular place!
You have to admit there is a sense of style going on here!
There were two very old fire engines in town. One is still being used. Fires were a real problem in early mining camps and it was not unusual to have a fire devastate a whole mining camp every couple of years. Getting fire fighting equipment and building more permanent brick structures was a big step in creating a permanent and stable community.
On the old fire truck. The fire department is manned by volunteers.
They were happy to be photographed.
Inside peek at the blacksmith's working area.
Another view of the interior of the tea house.
Hmmmm . . . maybe one and the same!
I was fascinated by her hat. She was a docent handing out candy.
Boy or girl?
Studebaker got its start making wagons.
'Ouch' by the end of the day.
The road to Columbia was almost a trip of its own. We passed a sign indicating that Mark Twain's cabin was about a half mile up the hill. So, up we went. We are staying just outside of Angels Camp, home of the Calaveras Jumping Frog. Mark Twain's first successful short story was about the Calaveras frog. The cabin was rebuilt on the site and it is surrounded by a fence.
We drove over both bridges on New Melones Lake as we took a loop route to and from Angels Camp.
Of course, there are always the road photographs.
New Melones Lake