Knights Ferry, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Knights Ferry
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California's oldest operating general store is located in Knights Ferry.
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 Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Oakdale, California |
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| Area | 107 acres (43 ha) |
| Built | 1849 |
| Architectural style | Mid 19th Century Revival, Gothic Revival, Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 75000490 |
| Added to NRHP | April 23, 1975 |
Knights Ferry is a small, historic town in Stanislaus County, California. It's located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. The town is about 30 miles (48 km) east of Modesto, right by the Stanislaus River. You might have seen places like Knights Ferry on TV! The nearby Williams Ranch was used for filming popular shows like Bonanza and Little House on the Prairie.
Knights Ferry is famous for its Knights Ferry Bridge. This is the longest covered bridge west of the Mississippi River. It stretches 330 feet (100 m) across the river. The town also has a K-8 elementary school and a museum. The museum teaches visitors about the town's history and the local wildlife. You can also see the ruins of an old mill and a jail.
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History of Knights Ferry
Gold Rush Beginnings
When gold was found in California in 1849, a doctor named William Knight remembered a good spot to cross the river. He and John C. Frémont had found it earlier. Dr. Knight started a ferry boat service there. Soon, his ferry became very popular. Dr. Knight and Captain Vantine built a hotel and a trading post near the crossing.
Sadly, on November 9, 1849, Dr. Knight was killed in a gunfight on the town's main street. He was buried in an unmarked grave. After his death, the Dent family quickly took over his property in Knights Ferry.
County Seat and New Bridges
Knights Ferry even became the county seat in 1862. This meant it was the main town for the county, replacing La Grange. However, a new, busy railroad town called Modesto soon took over as the county seat in 1871.
After Dr. Knight's death, Captain Vantine ran the ferry alone for a while. Then, he teamed up with John and Lewis Dent. In 1852, Vantine sold his land to the Dents and moved away. John Dent planned a new town called "Dentville." But people still called the area "Knights Ferry" or "Knights Crossing."
In 1852, a toll bridge was built to replace the ferry. But a huge flood in 1862 destroyed it. A new covered bridge was then built much higher up. This is the same bridge that stands today! It was used for cars until 1985, when it was closed to protect it from damage.
Historic Places to Visit
Knights Ferry has many historic buildings that are part of the Knights Ferry Historic District. Here are some of them:
- Abraham Schell House: This house was built in 1856. It was made of sandstone for Abraham Schell, who owned a large ranch nearby.
- Lewis Dent House: Built in 1851, this was the home of Lewis Dent. He was the brother-in-law of Ulysses S. Grant, who later became a U.S. President. Grant visited Knights Ferry in 1852 when he was an army captain. This is the oldest house in the community.
- Knights Ferry Community Church: This church was built in 1890. It replaced an older church from 1860. The new church kept the original pews, altar, and upper windows. It still holds services today.
- General Store: This store is California's oldest operating general store! It was built in 1852 by Moulton and Drew. George Valpey bought it later and became a Wells Fargo agent there in 1867.
- Millers Hall: Built in 1863, this building used to be a restaurant, pool hall, and poker room downstairs. Upstairs, it had a dance hall. In 1984, it was restored. Now, it holds the post office, community library, an ice cream shop, and a store selling local goods.
Fun Activities
Next to Knights Ferry is the Knights Ferry Recreation Area. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages this area. It's a great spot for rafting trips on the Stanislaus River. These trips are usually Class I-II, which means they are fairly easy. Rafting is most popular from April to October.
The water in the Stanislaus River comes from the bottom of the New Melones Dam. This makes the water clear and cold, even in the summer! Park rangers remind rafters to be careful and always wear life vests. The rapids below Knights Ferry can be tricky when the river is high.
The ZIP Code for Knights Ferry is 95361. The town is in area code 209. Knights Ferry is also part of the Modesto Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Willms Ranch
The Willms Ranch is a special place in Knights Ferry. It is a California Historical Landmark.
The historical marker for the ranch says: NO. 415 THE WILLMS RANCH - John R. Willms and John H. Kappelmann arrived in California on October 12, 1849. They started a hotel and butcher business in Buena Vista, which is now in Stanislaus County. They bought many mining and settler claims. By 1852, they owned a large area of 3,600 acres. Their 'KW' brand was the first in Stanislaus County in 1852. After Kappelmann passed away, Willms continued alone. The Willms family has owned the ranch ever since.
