HISTORIC ATTRACTIONS / HISTORIC SITES
Bridgeport Covered Bridge
South Yuba River
Penn Valley 916-808-7777
www.ncgold.com
Built in 1862, this magnificent structure extends 225 feet in length and is distinguished as the longest single-span covered bridge in the nation.
Columbia State Historic Park
22708 Broadway
Columbia 209-532-0150
www.parks.ca.gov
The preserved Gold Rush-era business district gives visitors a chance to time travel back to the 1850s, as proprietors in period clothing conduct business in the style of yesterday.
Empire Mine State Historic Park
Grass Valley 530-273-8522
www.parks.ca.gov
This 784-acre park is primarily forested backcountry, celebrating the site of the oldest, richest hard rock gold mine in California.
Folsom Powerhouse State Historic Park
Folsom 916-988-0205
www.parks.ca.gov
Beyond its significance as a colorful page in Sacramento history, the 1895 powerhouse is one of the oldest hydroelectric facilities in the nation.
Governor’s Mansion State Historic Park
1526 H Street
Sacramento 916-323-3047
www.parks.ca.gov
Built in 1877, the mansion became the official governor’s house until Ronald and Nancy Reagan vacated it in 1967. Today, this Victorian masterpiece houses artifacts and regal décor including Persian carpets, Italian marble fireplaces, magnificent chandeliers and French mirrors.
Holbrooke Hotel
212 West Main Street
Grass Valley 530-273-1353
www.holbrooke.com
Distinguished as one of the state’s oldest continuously operating hotels, the Holbrooke was built in 1851 and features rooms filled with beautiful antiques. Rooms are named for such famous guests as Mark Twain, President Grant, and Black Bart.
Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park
14881 Pine Grove-Volcano Road
Pine Grove 209-296-7488
www.parks.ca.gov
Nestled in the Sierra Nevada foothills, the park preserves a great outcropping of marbleized limestone with some 1,185 mortar holes.
Leland Stanford Mansion State Historic Park
802 N Street
Sacramento 916-324-0575
www.parks.ca.gov
More than a century old, the three-story mansion near the Capitol Building has been restored to its turn-of-the-century splendor. The mansion once served as the home of Governor Leland Stanford, a wealthy railroad baron and also a State Senator.
Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park
Nevada City 530-265-2740
www.parks.ca.gov
The world’s largest hydraulic gold mine also became the focal point of one of California’s first fierce environmental conflicts. Today’s visitors pan for gold, explore trails, and browse through the restored village.
Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park
Coloma 530-622-3470
www.parks.ca.gov
More than 150 years ago, the Gold Rush began when James Marshall discovered yellow metal in a sawmill trailrace he was building for John Sutter. Today, you can celebrate the site by journeying through time in the Gold Discovery Museum or panning for gold in the river.
The National Exchange Hotel
211 Broad Street
Nevada City 530-265-4551
www.ncgold.com
This excellent example of early hostelry is also the oldest continuously operated hotel in the West, with the original complex of four buildings built in 1854.
Old Sacramento State Historic Park
Front and I Streets
Old Sacramento 916-445-6645
www.parks.ca.gov
A cluster of noteworthy, early Gold Rush commercial structures are located within the Old Sacramento Historic District including the Eagle Theatre, the 1853 B.F. Hastings Building, and the 1855 Big Four Building.
Pioneer Monument
Donner Memorial State Park
12503 Donner Pass Road
Truckee 530-582-7892
www.parks.ca.gov
Near the Emigrant Trail Museum, the Pioneer Monument commemorates the struggles of early settlers within sight of the Donner Party’s Murphy family cabin site.
Railtown 1897 State Historic Park
5th Avenue and Reservoir Road
Jamestown 209-984-3953
www.csrmf.org
Nestled in the heart of California’s Gold Country, the park is home to the Historic Sierra Railroad Shops and Roundhouse and used for hundreds of movie and commercial films. Steam train rides are offered seasonally on weekends.
Sacramento City Cemetery
1000 Broadway
Sacramento 916-448-0811
https://www.historicoldcitycemetery.org
Thousands of stories are etched into silent tombstones that mark the final resting place of city celebrities like John A. Sutter, Jr.; Mark Hopkins of Big Four fame; and Judge E.B. Crocker.
Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park
2701 L Street
Sacramento 916-445-4422
www.parks.ca.gov
Self-guided audio tours allow you to explore the site of Sacramento’s new-world history, focused on the reconstructed adobe fort on the site where Swiss immigrant John Sutter originally constructed his fort.
