Angels Camp Museum facts for kids

The Angels Camp Museum is a history museum in Angels Camp, California. It teaches visitors about the exciting California Gold Rush. The museum is built on 3 acres of land that was once part of the Angels Mine. This mine started way back in the 1850s. The museum has four buildings and a cool collection of 29 old horse-drawn carriages that have been fixed up.

History of the Museum

The Angels Mine began in the 1850s. The museum stands on part of this old mine's land. This spot is special because two major gold veins of the Mother Lode meet here. The Angels Mine has about 200 miles of tunnels and shafts. It was named after a gold miner called Henry Angel. As of 2012, Bob Rogers was the museum's director.

The museum also owns the Altaville Grammar School. This is the oldest schoolhouse still standing in California. Every year, the museum hosts a special Gold Rush Day. On this day, they don't charge for entry. They celebrate the Gold Rush with demonstrations, music, food, and people dressed in old-time costumes.

What You Can See at the Museum

The museum has many interesting things to see. It focuses a lot on old wagons and carriages. You can also see early mining equipment.

Main Collections

Other items in the collection include:

• Minerals from the Gold Rush era.
• An old slot machine from the 1800s.
• A telephone switchboard that was used in Angels Camp.
• Twenty-nine restored horse-drawn vehicles.

The museum also has old films and historical photographs. You can see everyday objects from the past, like typewriters. There are even parts from the old post office in Angels Camp.

Exhibitions and Films

The main building shows off antiques and historical objects. It also has a small theater. Here, you can watch a film called Jump. This film is about the Frog Jump Jubilee. This is a yearly frog jumping contest held in Angels Camp. A garage on the museum property displays the old carriages. Another building shows off the mining equipment.