Columbia in Tuolumne County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Columbia

State Historic Landmark #123 Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Leticia A. Kohnen, August 20, 2006

1. State Historic Landmark #123 Marker

Inscription. Columbia, the “gem of the southern mines,” became a town of 4000 to 5000 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 State Park was created in 1945 to preserve its historic buildings and sites.

Erected 1958 by California State Parks Commission, Tuolumne County Chamber of Commerce. (Marker Number 123.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks, and the National Historic Landmarks series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is March 27, 1846.

Location. 38° 1.962′ N, 120° 24.234′ W. Marker is in Columbia, California, in Tuolumne County. It is at the intersection of Broadway St. and Church Street, on the left when traveling north on Broadway St.. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Columbia CA 95310, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Sierra Nevada.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

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 walking distance of this marker: Hon. Jesse M. Mayo (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Columbia Masonic Temple (about 800 feet away); Eagle Cotage (about

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800 feet away); Site of Donnell & Parsons Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); Hildreth Party (approx. 0.2 miles away); Scraping the Rocks Clean (approx. 0.2 miles away); A Home for Immigrants (approx. ¼ mile away); Wilson/McConnell House (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Columbia.

Photographed by Leticia A. Kohnen, August 20, 2006

2. State Historic Landmark #123 Marker

Photographed by Syd Whittle, September 21, 2006

3. Main Street

Columbia Jail image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, September 21, 2006

4. Columbia Jail

Wells Fargo and Co. Express Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, September 21, 2006

5. Wells Fargo and Co. Express Building

Wells Fargo Express Building and Bank image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, September 21, 2006

6. Wells Fargo Express Building and Bank

Columbia National Registered Historic Site Plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer

7. Columbia National Registered Historic Site Plaque

Columbia
Has been designated a
Registered National
Historical Landmark
Under the provisions of the Historic Sites Act of August, 21, 1935
This site possesses exceptional value in commemorating and illustrating the history of the United States

U.S. Department of the Interior
National Park Service
1961

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer

8. Columbia National Registered Historic Site Plaque

This plague is on a boulder, near the east end of the parking lot, across Columbia Street from the Hildreth Party marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on September 13, 2007, by Mathew H. Kohnen of San Jose, California. This page has been viewed 2,107 times since then and 39 times this year. Last updated on March 24, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 13, 2007, by Mathew H. Kohnen of San Jose, California. 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on October 25, 2008, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 7, 8. submitted on August 27, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.