Near Mariposa in Mariposa County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Mormon Bar
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 18, 2011
1. Mormon Bar Marker
Inscription.
Mormon Bar. . In 1849, a group of Mormons established a tent encampment near here while searching for land to farm. After an influx of gold miners the Mormons moved on. Next came thousands of Chinese miners, merchants and farmers. Mormon Bar became the largest Chinese community in Mariposa County boasting a hotel, blacksmith shop, stores and gambling dens. Mormon Bar 1860 election returns reported the secession candidates defeated the union candidates 21 to 17. In 1864 President Abraham Lincoln received 11 votes in the Mormon precinct. Mormon Bar was an important stagecoach stop for travelers to and from Yosemite. Granite used in building the Mariposa jail was quarried near here. Archaeological evidence shows that Native Americans lived in the area long before the Mormons arrived.
In 1849, a group of Mormons established a tent encampment near here while searching for land to farm. After an influx of gold miners the Mormons moved on. Next came thousands of Chinese miners, merchants and farmers. Mormon Bar became the largest Chinese community in Mariposa County boasting a hotel, blacksmith shop, stores and gambling dens. Mormon Bar 1860 election returns reported the secession candidates defeated the union candidates 21 to 17. In 1864 President Abraham Lincoln received 11 votes in the Mormon precinct. Mormon Bar was an important stagecoach stop for travelers to and from Yosemite. Granite used in building the Mariposa jail was quarried near here. Archaeological evidence shows that Native Americans lived in the area long before the Mormons arrived.
Erected 2003 by E Clampus Vitus, Matuca Chapter No. 1849. (Marker Number 323.)
Location. 37° 27.805′ N, 119° 56.869′ W. Marker is near Mariposa, California, in Mariposa County
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. Marker is on Fairgrounds Road east of California Highway 49, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5035 Fairgrounds Road, Mariposa CA 95338, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regarding Mormon Bar. In 1939 this site was designated California Historical Landmark No. 323 - Mormon Bar.
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer
2. Mormon Bar Marker
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 18, 2011
3. Mormon Bar Marker
Photographed By Mandy Kirby, circa October 20, 2018
4. Mormon Bar Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on January 28, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 23, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,255 times since then and 144 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on August 23, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 4. submitted on October 21, 2018, by Mandy Kirby of Clovis, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.