Relive the 1849 California Gold Rush days when you walk down the streets of Columbia State Historic Park – the best preserved Gold-Rush era town in California or ride the rails just a few minutes away at Railtown 1897 State Historic Park; home of the, “movie train.”

Railtown and Columbia bring the old west to life – just like in the movies where they've so frequently appeared. Over 300 films and TV programs have used the train, the buildings and the nearby scenery to recreate mid-19th century life in the old west. In Columbia you can walk down the street Gary Cooper walked down to meet Grace Kelly in the classic western, “High Noon.” The house she lived in is still there too. At Railtown you can see ride the train the bad guys came in on which is the same train that dozens of other stars dating back to silent films rode into town on.

Today in Columbia, you can ride a stagecoach, pan for gold and visit many of the shops and homes that make up this old-west town. Sample handmade candies in the Candy Kitchen, watch a blacksmith forge his steel, attend a performance at the historic Fallon House Theatre or stop for some Sarsaparilla at one of the local saloons.

The brave can take a “Ghost Walk” at the centuries old cemetery or see how children were taught in the 1850 schoolhouse (hickory switch included).

Over at Railtown, on the edge of Jamestown, another old-west treasure that's also been a favorite of the film industry, you can tour the Roundhouse and the old-time station as well as a history of America's railways in the rolling stock and the wonderful film memorabilia housed there.

Columbia and Jamestown reflect the rich cultural history that earned Tuolumne County (where they're both located) the designation of a, “Preserve America” community from the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. The gold rush brought miners from around the world who all left their mark on the region: the Chinese who came to Columbia for gold and established the nearby community of Chinese Camp (which is still there), the Mexicans who came form Sonora, Mexico and named the largest city in the county, Sonora, in honor of their heritage, the African American Buffalo Soldiers who came to nearby Yosemite Valley and so many more from around the globe.

The old-west truly comes to life with all the modern conveniences in California's historic Gold Rush Country just a few hours from San Francisco and Sacramento and easy driving distance to the Los Angeles area as well.

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Contact:
Sandy Gordon 
tcvbmarketing@mlode.com
 209-533-4420 or 800-466-1333

YOSEMITE GOLD COUNTRY

Tuolumne County Visitors Bureau

PO Box 4020

Sonora, CA 95370-4020

USA