Columbia State Historic Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Columbia State Historic Park |
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Main Street in Columbia State Historic Park
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 Columbia State Historic Park
Location in California
Columbia State Historic Park
Location in the United States
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| Location | Tuolumne County, California, USA |
| Nearest city | Columbia, California |
| Area | 273 acres (110 ha) |
| Established | 1945 |
| Governing body | California Department of Parks and Recreation |
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Columbia Historic District
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| Built | 1854 |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000242 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHLD | July 4, 1961 |
Columbia State Historic Park, also called Columbia Historic District, is a special state park in Columbia, California, USA. It helps keep alive the history of a real California Gold Rush town. You can see nearly 30 old buildings from that time, still standing today! This park was named a National Historic Landmark in 1961 because it's so important.
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Step Back in Time: What to See
Columbia became a state historic park in 1945. The old buildings here are like a living, working open-air museum. People dressed in old-fashioned clothes work in the shops. You can find a handmade candy store, a special photo studio, and even go for stagecoach rides! There are also other cool stores and places to eat.
The Columbia Museum is located in the Knapp building. It's a great place to learn more about the town's past.
Fun Activities and Tours
Volunteers from the Friends of Columbia State Historic Park put on many special events. These events show what life was like long ago. During "Gold Rush Days," held every second Saturday, park guides wear old costumes. They lead programs and offer hands-on activities. You can also get free tours of the town on weekends all year. During the summer, tours are offered every day.
A Town Built on Gold: Columbia's History
Gold was found in the Columbia area on March 27, 1850. It was one of the richest gold discoveries during the California Gold Rush. At first, miners could easily find gold near the surface. But they needed water to wash the gold out of the dirt.
Over the next seven years, a huge system of water pipes was built. This cost over $1 million! By 1852, enough water arrived to help the town grow fast. Large-scale mining began in 1856. The town officially became a city in 1854. Its population changed a lot, from 2,000 to 5,000 people in the 1850s.
The town had many fires. After a big fire in 1857, many new buildings were made of brick. This helped them last longer.
Columbia on Screen: Movies and TV
Columbia State Historic Park has been a filming spot for many movies and TV shows. The famous movie High Noon (from 1952) had scenes filmed here. You can see parts of Main Street and the old Engine House #2 in the movie. Another film, The Shadow Riders (1982), was also shot in and around Columbia.
