Near Browns Valley in Yuba County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Timbuctoo

← 5 Miles

Photographed by Syd Whittle, February 15, 2006

1. Timbuctoo Marker

Inscription. 1855. Largest town in eastern Yuba County, and at height of its prosperity contained a church, theater, stores, hotels, and saloons. Old Wells Fargo Office and Stewart Bros.; Store restored, 1928, and dedicated to pioneer men and women of Timbuctoo.

Erected by Department of Public Works – Division of Highways. (Marker Number 320.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Natural Resources • Notable Places • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1855.

Location. 39° 13.76′ N, 121° 22.969′ W. Marker is near Browns Valley, California, in Yuba County. It is on California Route 20 0.2 miles east of Monument Trail, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Browns Valley CA 95918, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Sacramento Metro,

in Sacramento Valley,

and specifically in the Central Valley.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Hammon Grove (approx. 0.9 miles away); Browns Valley: 1850 – 1860 (approx. 1.6 miles away); Brown's Valley: Beginnings (approx. 1.6 miles away); Donnebrouge Mine (approx. 1.7 miles away); Henness Pass Road – Brown’s Valley

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(approx. 1.7 miles away); a different marker also named Timbuctoo (approx. 2.7 miles away); The Yuba River Bridge at Parks Bar (approx. 2.7 miles away); Sucker Flat (approx. 4.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Browns Valley.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.

Also see . . .
1. Ghost Towns: Timbuctoo. (Submitted on December 5, 2008.)
2. Timbuctoo, California. A new website dedicated to exploring the rich history of Timbuctoo, California. (Submitted on February 19, 2018, by Lane Parker of San Francisco, California.)

Additional commentary.
1. Marker inscription
Although the State historic marker reads "store restored, 1928..." the commemorative plaque placed on the Wells Fargo and Stewart Bros. store building by the Native Daughters of the Golden West (Parlor 162) and Native Sons of the Golden West (Parlor 6) was dated May 10, 1925. (The plaque is visible on the right side of the building's facade in Photo #6.) So, a three-year discrepancy exists between the NDGW/NSGW restoration date and the California Department of Public Works

Smartsville Main Street 1871 image. Click for full size.

circa 1871

2. Smartsville Main Street 1871

date. Note To Editor only visible by Contributor and editor

— Submitted December 8, 2008, by Lane Parker of San Francisco, California.

2. Landmark Status
Timbuctoo became a California State Registered Historical Landmark (No. 320) on July 12, 1939.

— Submitted December 24, 2008, by Lane Parker of San Francisco, California.

3. Commemorative Plaque
The Commemorative Plaque referenced in Comment #2 reads in full:

"Old Wells Fargo Office & Stewart Bros. Store (1855) Restored and dedicated to the memory of the pioneer men and women of Timbuctoo. May 10, 1925, by Marysville Parlor No. 6, N.S.G.W. Marysville Parlor No. 162, N.D.G.W. Presented by Wells Fargo Bank & Union Trust Co., San Francisco."
Note: The lettering on the plaque is all uppercase.

— Submitted January 6, 2009, by Lane Parker of San Francisco, California.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, February 15, 2006

3. Timbuctoo Marker

Timbuctoo - 1867 image. Click for full size.

Wells Fargo Bank Historical Museum

4. Timbuctoo - 1867

Photocopy of 1867 lithograph (from Wells Fargo Bank Historical Museum, San Francisco, California, 1867) Photographer - George Barrington, Lithograph dated 1862. August 1940 GENERAL VIEW OF MAIN STREET AND ENVIRONS.
Historic American Buildings Survey (Library of Congress)
HABS CAL,58-TIMTO,1-

Street View of Timbuctoo image. Click for full size.

V. Covert Martin Collection, LOC, circa 1850's

5. Street View of Timbuctoo

Historic American Buildings Survey (Library of Congress)- HABS CAL,58-TIMTO,1-

Vintage Postcard - Old Wells Fargo Station at Timbuctoo, Calif. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Eastman's Studio

6. Vintage Postcard - Old Wells Fargo Station at Timbuctoo, Calif.

Source: USGenWeb

Grizzly Bear, June 1926, p33 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James King

7. Grizzly Bear, June 1926, p33

This is the report of the dedication ceremony for the plaque on the Wells Fargo Building. While the State Parks CHL plaque states the store was restored in 1928, this article from 1926 says that it was restored in 1925.

All indications are that this marker has been lost. If recovered, NSGW/NDGW would like to receive it back for remounting in a roadside monument.

Wells Fargo building at Timbuctoo, February 2007 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Lane Parker, February 11, 2007

8. Wells Fargo building at Timbuctoo, February 2007

New Timbuctoo Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Rover Spotts, August 5, 2025

9. New Timbuctoo Marker

See: Other Nearby Markers

Credits. This page was last revised on August 11, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 5, 2008. This page has been viewed 5,503 times since then and 74 times this year. Last updated on August 7, 2020, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. Photos: 1. submitted on December 5, 2008, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 2. submitted on August 13, 2016, by Terri Sottile of Oceanside, California. 3. submitted on December 5, 2008, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 4. submitted on April 12, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 5. submitted on April 9, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 6. submitted on December 8, 2008, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 7. submitted on February 20, 2018, by James King of San Miguel, California. 8. submitted on December 24, 2008, by Lane Parker of San Francisco, California. 9. submitted on August 5, 2025, by Rover Spotts of San Francisco, California. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.