Research Resources – California

• Archives
  • Amador County Archives, Jackson, California.
  • Archival Research Catalog, U. S. National Archives & Records Administration (NARA)
  • Archives and Golden State Museum - California State Archives in Sacramento
  • Archives and Knowledge Management - Scholarly Online Resource Evidence and Records for Use by Genealogists and Family Historians, by V. Chris & Thomas M. Tinney, Sr.
  • California Digital Library Online – Archive of California
  • California State Archives, Sacramento, California.
    • Collections
    • California Digital Library's Online Archive of California

    • Minerva:  The online catalog for the California State Archives 

    • Research Libraries Information Network (RLIN) - RLG Union Catalog

  • California State University – East Bay – Archives and Special Collections

  • California State University, Fullerton, University - Archives and Special Collections
  • California State University, Long Beach - Special Collections and University Archives
  • California State University, Los Angeles - Special Collections
  • California State University, Northridge - Special Collections and Archives
  • California State University, Sacramento - Special Collections & University Archives
  • California State University, Stanislaus - Archives/Special Collections

  • California Through My Lens, presented by Josh McNair

  • Del Norte County Historical Museum, 577 H. Street, Crescent City, CA 95531-3743.
  • Downieville Foundry, P. O. Box 484, Pear Street, Downieville, CA 95936; for information call the Chamber of Commerce at (530) 289-3507.
  • Downieville Museum (AKA Sierra County Museum; AKA Sierra Museum), P. O. Box 484, 330 Main Street, Downieville, CA 95936; (530) 289-3423. (A brochure entitled Walking Tour of Downieville is available.)
  • El Dorado Mine - Tower House Historical District in the Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, P. O. Box 188, Kennedy Memorial Drive, Whiskeytown, CA 96095-0188; (530) 241-6584. (The El Dorado Mine was a hard rock mine which was operated off and on from 1885 until 1967.)
  • Forest City Dance Hall Museum, Forest City Historical Association, Forest City, CA 95910; (530) 287-3413. (The building in which the museum is located was once a dance hall in 1883. A brochure is available from the Historical Association entitled Forest City Historic Walking Tour.)
  • Fort Jones Museum, P. O. Box 40, 11913 Main Street, Fort Jones, CA 96032; (530) 468-5568. (A Pelton wheel is on display in addition to mining equipment. Local rock was used on the exterior the walls of the building.
  • Getty Research Library, Los Angeles, California. "The Research Library at the Getty Research Institute focuses on the history of art, architecture, and archaeology with relevant materials in the humanities and social sciences."
  • Getty Villa, Malibu, California. (According to the web site: “ The Getty Villa is an educational center and museum dedicated to the study of the arts and cultures of ancient Greece, Rome, and Etruria.”)
  • Great Water Ditch Trail (AKA Clear Creek Ditch) in the Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, P. O. Box 188, Kennedy Memorial Drive, Whiskeytown, CA 96095-0188; (530) 241-6584. (The Great Water Ditch construction began in 1855 and eventually ran 41 miles from Whisketown to midway between Shasta and Redding.)
  • Greenhorn Park, Yreka County Visitors Bureau, 117 W. Miner Street, Yreka, CA 96097-2917. (Greenhorn Park is located on the site of the Greenhorn Mine. A simulated mining town is presented, and there are exhibits related to gold mining.)
  • Henry Madden Library, California State University, Fresno – Special Collections Research Center

  • Hill’s Pride Inn, Raymond/Knowles, Madera County, California (Robert Casaurang, Proprietor and avid local history expert) Article about Hill’s Pride Inn by Lynn Northrop, on the National Geographic Society web site.

  • Historical Text Archives (Contains a wide range of primary sources and web links. Under “USA,” see special category entitled, “USA West.”)
  • Hoover Institution - Library and Archives, Hoover Institutions, Stanford University.
  • J. J. Jake Jackson Memorial Museum in the Trinity County Historical Park, P. O. Box 333, 508 Main Street, Weaverville, CA 96093-0333; (530) 623-5211. (Included at the museum are 3-D models of the Brown Bear Mine, a simulated working blacksmith shop, hydraulic monitors, a Pelton wheel, and other mining equipment.)
  • Kentucky Mine and Museum (AKA Sierra County Historical Park and Museum), P. O. Box 260, 100 Kentucky Mine Road, Sierra City, CA 96125; (530) 862-1310. (There is a tour of the mine and mill available in addition to exhibits of mining and nonmining equipment and artifacts.
  • Klamath National Forest Interpretive History and Culture, 1312 Fairlane Road, Yreka, CA 96097-9549; (530) 842-6131.
  • La Grange Interpretive Stop. (This is a roadside monument that displays a hydraulic monitor and a historical marker.)
  • Library of Congress Digitized American Memory Collection
  • Library of Congress Online Map Collections, American Memory

  • Lone Pine Gem and Mineral Society (LPGMS)

  • Mount Shasta Mine in the Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, P. O. Box 188, Kennedy Memorial Drive, Whiskeytown, CA 96095-0188; (530) 241-6584.
  • Napa Historical Society Research Library
    

  (from the web site)  “The Society’s Research Library houses books, city directories, many original manuscripts, thousands of old photographs, newspaper clippings, maps, videos architectural drawings and documents pertaining to the people and history of Napa County and its place in California’s history.”

  • National Archives (NARA), U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Maryland.
  • National Archives and Records Administration-Pacific Region (San Francisco)
  • National Geologic Map Database, presented by the United States Geologic Survey.
  • National Union Catalog of Manuscript Collections (NUCMC)
    

  • Northern California Geological Society

  • Old City Cemetery Archive, Sacramento, California.
  • The Online Archive of California
  • Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection
  • Placer County Archives and Research Center, Auburn, California.
  • Plumas County Museum Association, 500 Jackson Street, Quincy, CA 95971-9412; (530) 283-6320.
  • Plumas-Eureka State Park and Museum, 310 Johnsville Road, Blairsden-Graeagle, CA 96103-9744; (530) 836-2380.
  • The Raymond Museum, Raymond, Madera County, California.

  (from the web site) “The Charles Miller House is home to the Raymond Museum located at 31956 Road 608 in the middle of downtown Raymond. The board and batten house is the first house built in Raymond and was the homestead for Charles Miller, the first agent for the Southern Pacific Railroad and the Yosemite Stage and Turnpike Company dating from Spring of 1886.”

  • Repositories of Primary Sources: California – List of links to online resources from the University of Idaho Library, Special Collections and Archives.
  • Rocks and Geology in the San Francisco Bay Region, by Phillip Stoffer, U. S. Geological Survey Bulletin 2195, 2002. (This report can be downloaded in PDF.)
  • Sacramento Archives and Museum Collection Center (SAMCC)
  • Sacramento History Online
  • San Bernardino County Museum Archives
  • San Diego History Center Collections
  • San Diego Natural History Museum – The Laurence M. Klauber Special Collections Library
  • San Diego State University – Special Collections

  • San Francisco Buildings, presented on emporis.com.

  • San Francisco Buildings:  How to Research Your San Francisco Building, by Jean Kortum, San Francisco Public Library.

  • San Francisco Buildings: Sights and Attractions in the world’s greatest cities.

  • San Francisco State University – Labor Archives and Research Center–Finding Aid
  • San Francisco State University – Special Collections and Archives

  • Santa Barbara – “Historic Stonework in Santa Barbara,” presented on the Stone Foundation web site.

  • Santa Clara University Archives & Special Collections
    • Special Collections
  • Shasta State Historical Park – Courthouse Museum, P. O. Box 2430, Highway 299 W, Shasta, CA 96087; (530) 243-8194.

  • Sierra Mono Museum, North Ford, California.

  • Siskiyou County Digital Archives
  • Siskiyou County Museum, 910 S. Main Street, Yreka, CA 96097-3373; (530) 842-3836. (The museum presents exhibits on gold mining, the local Native American culture, and the beaver trade, and it is presented by the Siskiyou County Historical Society.)
  • Sonoma County Library – Local History
  • Special Collections Web Resources, hosted by the Rare Book and Manuscript Section of the American Library Association, includes links to discussion lists, information about electronic records, and online preservation resources.
  • Stanford University Archives and Collections
  • Tower House Historic District in the Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, P. O. Box 188, Kennedy Memorial Drive, Whiskeytown, CA 96095-0188; (530) 241-6584. (The Tower House was once a famous hotel built by Levi Tower in 1852; it burned down in1919. There are other buildings on the site including the Camden House built by Charles Camden in 1852.)
  • University of California, Davis – Special Collections
  • University of California, Irvine – Special Collections and Archives
  • University of California, Los Angeles – Film and Television Archive
  • University of California, Los Angeles – Special Collections
  • University of California, Riverside – California Museum of Photography
  • University of California, San Diego – Mandeville Special Collections
  • University of California, San Francisco – Archives and Special Collections
  • University of California, Santa Barbara – Donald C. Davidson Library - Special Collections
  • University of California, Santa Cruz – Regional History Project
  • University of California, Santa Cruz – Special Collections and Archives
  • University of Southern California – Archival Research Center
  • U. S. National Archives & Records Management (NARA)
  • Water Resources Center Archives, University of California.
  • Weaverville Joss House State Historic Park, P. O. Box 1217, Weaverville, CA 96093; (530) 623-5284. (Information on the Chinese in the gold mining era of the area, and the brochure available at the museum contains a description of the Chinese immigration to California.)
  • Western Mining in the Twentieth Century – Oral History Series, University of California - Berkeley Library, Berkeley, California.
  • Whiskeytown National Recreation Area Visitor Center, P. O. Box 188, Kennedy Memorial Drive, Whiskeytown, CA 96095-0188; (530) 241-6584. (The Visitor Center features gold mining equipment.)
  • Yolo County Archives, Woodland, California.
  • Yreka Water Ditch – The 82-mile long water ditch was constructed in 1855 to supply water for placer gold mining. Click here if you would like to read about the history of the ditch. This history is presented by the Siskiyou County Sesquicentennial Committee.
• Libraries
  • A. K. Smiley Public Library – Heritage Room, Redlands, California. (The library was established to "collect, preserve, and make available historical material relating to Redlands, San Bernardino County, Southern California, and Native Americans.)
  • African American Museum and Library, Oakland, California.

  • Bancroft Library at the University of California - Berkeley

    • Collections & Digital Collections
  • Braun Research Library – Autry National Center Southwestern Museum of the American Indian
  • California Academy of Sciences Library, San Francisco, California.
  • California Digital Library featuring the Melvyl Catalog – Combined catalog of the University of California and Stanford University library collections.
  • California Historical Society Library, San Francisco, California.
    • Research Collections
  • California State Library, Sacramento, California.
    • California History Room (“The California History Room collection covers all aspects of life in the State from prehistoric times to the present.”)
    • California State Library – Sutro (San Francisco, California)
    • Government Publications Section
    • Guide to Sources For Genealogy in The California History Room
  • California State University Library, Sacramento, California.
    • California State University – Archives and Special Collections
  • Carnegie Libraries of California
  • Carniege Library and Museum, 557 Lincoln, Historic Roseville, CA 95678; (916) 773-3003. "Eclectic collection of items, trains, movies, music and books throughout the centuries. Historic model train replicas of Roseville through the years."
  • Getty Research Library, Los Angeles, California. "The Research Library at the Getty Research Institute focuses on the history of art, architecture, and archaeology with relevant materials in the humanities and social sciences."
  • Golden Nugget Library (Searchable California databases), presented by Nancy Pratt Melton.
  • Henry Madden Library, California State University, Fresno, California.
    • Special Collections Research Center

    • Local, Regional, and California History

    • World’s Fair Collection  (Below are a few of the links regarding the World’s Fairs available in the Henry Madden Library Special Collections Research Center.)

      • Chronological List by Decades of World’s Fairs
      • Alphabetical List by Cities of World’s Fairs
      • Larson Collection Photograph Index
      • Bibliographies of World’s Fairs
        
  • Holt Labor Library - Labor Studies and Radical History. "The mission of the Holt Labor Library is to make available to working people, activists, and scholars the theoretical, historical, and experiential dimensions of the class struggle in the advanced industrialized world in the 19th and especially 20th centuries."
  • Hoover Institution - Library and Archives, Hoover Institutions, Stanford University.
  • The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Garden, San Marino, California. "For qualified scholars, the Huntington Library is one of the largest and most complete research libraries in the United States in its fields of specialization. Collections include rare books and manuscripts principally in the areas of British and American history and literature, 15th century European books, history of science, maritime history, and Renaissance exploration and cartography."
  • The Internet Public Library
  • J. Porter Shaw Maritime Library (San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park) The Pacific Coast's preeminent library of commercial maritime history. The library "focuses on sail and steam on the West Coast and in the Pacific Basin from 1520 to the present."
  • Labor Archives and Research Center, J. Paul Leonard Library, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, California.
  • LIBCAT – A Guide to Library Resources on the Internet.
  • LibDex - The Library Index – California
  • Library of Congress Online Catalogue
  • Los Angeles Public Library
  • Marin County Free Library, Anne T. Kent California Room, San Rafael, California.
  • Mechanics’ Institute Library, San Francisco, California.
  • MELVYL Online Library - Basic Search: The Catalog of the University of California Libraries.
  • Metropolitan Cooperative Library System is an association of libraries in the greater Los Angeles area which shares resources to improve library service to the residents of all participating jurisdictions.
  • Miriam Library, California State University. Chico - Special Collections
  • Monterey Bay Area Cooperative Library System (MOBAC) - MOBAC is a consortium of 24 public, academic, and special libraries in the Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz County area. Materials can be searched by author, title, subject or keyword. You can download a text file which contains all the "hits" at a given library.
  • National Archive (NARA) - Pacific Region (Laguna Niguel, Riverside, & San Bruno ) (Research resources of retired records)
  • Oakland Library, Oakland, California.
    • Oakland History Room
    • Special Collections and Services
  • Riverside County Library System, Riverside, California.
  • San Bruno History Room, located at the San Bruno Public Library, 701 West Angus Avenue, San Bruno, CA 94066; (650) 877-8878.
  • San Diego Public Library
  • San Francisco Law Library, San Francisco, California.
  • San Francisco Public Library
    • San Francisco History Center
  • San Jose Public Library
    • California Room
    • Digital Collections, King Library Special Collections
  • Santa Cruz Public Libraries
    • Local History Subjects
  • Searls Historical Library, 214 Church St., Nevada City, CA 95959; (916) 265-5468 and (916) 265-5910.
  • Sonoma County Library
    • Sonoma County Library Heritage Collections

  • Sonoma State University Library, Rohnert Park, California

    • Special Collections / University Archives
  • Stanford University Libraries & Information Resources
  • Sutro Library, California State Library, San Francisco, California. ("The Sutro Library features U.S. local history, the notable rare book and manuscript collections formed by Adolph Sutro, and the finest genealogy collection west of Salt Lake City, Utah. Use the Online Catalog to explore these collections." )
  • U. S. Geological Survey Library, Reston, Virginia.
  • University of California, Davis
  • University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), Kalmanovitz Library, 530 Parnassus Avenue (at 3rd Avenue), San Francisco, California. (Contact information)
  • University of Southern California (USC) Libraries
  • Walter W. Stiern Library, California State University, Bakersfield Library – Special Collections
  • The William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, a part of the UCLA library system.
• Museums
  • Alleghany Mining Museum (Sierra County) – See: Underground Gold Miners Museum & the and Sixteen-to-One Mine below.
  • Alpha and Omega Hydraulic Diggins Overlook, Nevada City Chamber of Commerce, 132 Main Street, Nevada City, CA 95959-2520; (530) 265-2692 for information. From the overlook, which is only marked as "Rest Stop," you can view scars left from hydraulic mining at the towns of Alpha and Omega toward the north in the distance.
  • Alpine County Historical Complex/Museum, P. O. Box 187, #1 School Street, Markleeville, CA 96120; (530) 694-2317.
  • Amador County Museum, 225 Church Street, Jackson, CA 95642-2303; (209) 223-6386.
  • Amador Whitney Museum, 14170 Highway 49 ( P.O. Box 181), Amador City, CA 95601; (209) 267-9310.
  • Angels Camp Museum (Calaveras County), 753 South Main Street, Angels Camp, CA 95222; (209) 736-2963. (The museum includes a rock and mineral museum.)
  • The Antelope Valley Indian Museum, located in northeastern Los Angeles County; (661) 942-0662.
  • Archives and Golden State Museum - California State Archives in Sacramento
  • Armand Hammer Museum of Art and Culture Center (AHMACC), Los Angeles, California.

  • Autry National Center of the American West

  • Baker Memorial Museum, 297 W. Elm Street, Coalinga, CA 93210-1923; (209) 935-1914. The former machine shop, which specialized in manufacturing oil field equipment, was once owned by Mr. R. C. Baker. Today the machine shop houses the museum. (You can explore other parts of the museum if you ask for access to sections beyond the main exhibit room.)
  • Benicia Capitol State Historic Park, 1st and G Streets, Benicia, California; (707) 745-3385.
  • Benicia Historical Museum at the Camel Barns, 2060 Camel Road, Benicia, CA 94510; (707) 745-5435 or (707) 745-2135.
  • Bernhard Museum Complex (Placer County), Auburn, California.
  • Beverly and Jim Rogers Museum of Film History, Lone Pine, California.

  According to the website, the mission of the museum is “to celebrate and preserve the movie history of Lone Pine, Death Valley and the Eastern Sierra areas. It also explores the interpretation and artistic expression of the western landscape.”)

  • Big Bear Valley Historical Society and Museum, located in the northeast portion of Big Bear City Park; P.O. Box 513, Big Bear City, CA 92314; (909) 585-8100.
  • Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve Underground Museum, 5175 Somersville Road, Antioch, CA 94509-7807; (925) 757-2620. (Historical coal and silica (sand) mining.)
  • Bodie State Historic Park, P. O. Box 515, Bridgeport, CA 93517-0515; (760) 6445. (Bodie was once a successful gold mining area. The town is kept preserved in "a state of arrested decay, and there are 170 buildings remaining in the town.)
  • Bolton Hall Museum, 10110 Commerce Avenue, Tujunga, CA 91042.; (The museum is housed in a stone building built in 1913 as the meeting hall and club house for Little Lands Colony.) Email: landmhitt@cs.com
  • Borax Museum at Furnace Creek Ranch in Death Valley National Park, P. O. Box 1, Furnace Creek Ranch, Death Valley, CA 92328; (760) 786-2345.
  • Borax Visitor Center, 14486 Borax Road, north of Boron. (This museum is operated by U. S. Borax Inc.)
  • The Brea Historical Society Museum and Heritage Center, 652 S. Brea Boulevard, Brea, CA 92821; (714) 256-2283.
  • Butte County Pioneer Memorial Museum, Location: 2332 Montgomery Street in Oroville; U.S. Mail address: P.O. Box 1743, Oroville, CA 95965; (530) 534-8700 days, (530) 534-0198 evenings.
  • Calaveras County Historical Museum and Archives, 30 North Main Street, P. O. Box 1281, San Andreas, CA 95249-9547; (209) 754-1058.
  • Calico Early Man Archeological Site, Friends of Calico Early Man Site, P. O. Box 535, Yermo, CA 92398; (760) 256-5102. (The site is a 200,000 year old flint quarry and workshop.)
  • Calico Ghost Town, P. O. Box 638, 36600 Ghost Town Road, Yermo, CA 92398; (760) 254-2122; (800) TO-CALICO.
  • California Academy of Science, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California.
  • California African American Museum, Los Angeles, California.
  • California Caverns at Cave City, 9570 Cave City Road, Mountain Ranch, CA 95246; (209) 754-1850.
  • California Delta History, presented by California Delta Chambers and Visitor Bureau, Lodi, California.
  • California Federal Land Records, a part of the USGenWeb Project.
  • California State Capitol Museum (photographs and history)
  • California Foundry History Museum, in Sacramento at McClellan Park, 5301 Price Avenue (I-80 to Watt Avenue Exit, follow to former McClellan Air Force Base, enter at Peacekeeper Way off Watt). Museum is located in the Technikon facility; (916) 929-8001.

  • California Foundry History Institute, El Dorado Hills, California.

  • California Historical Societies and Museums, presented by the California Historical Society.
  • California Historical Societies and Museums (Lists), courtesy of The California Territorial Quarterly, Paradise, California.
  • California History Center at De Anza College Exhibitions, Write 21250 Stevens Creek Boulevard, Cupertino, CA 95014 or call (408) 996-4712. (Regional History Library specializing in the Santa Clara Valley.
  • California Indian Museum and Cultural Center, Santa Rosa, California.
  • California Military Museum Militia, 1119 2nd Street, Sacramento, CA; (916) 442-2883.
  • California State Indian Museum, Sacramento, California.
  • California State Military Museum
  • California State Mining and Mineral Museum, Mariposa County Fairgrounds, Highway 49, P. O. Box 1192, Mariposa, CA 95338; (209) 742-7625. (California State Parks)
  • California State Parks – State Museum Resource Center (Archives, Ethnographic, Art Collections, Archaeological, Decorative Arts, and Historic Photos)
  • California State Railroad Museum, Second & I Streets in Old Sacramento, Sacramento, California.
    • Library and Collections
  • Campbell Historical Museum, Orchard City Green at Grant St., Campbell, CA 95008; (408) 866-2119.
  • Canoga-Owensmouth Historical Society Museum, 7248 Owensmouth, Canoga Park, CA 91303; (818) 346-5252.
  • Carl Nelson Gorman Museum: Our People, Our Land, Our Images - International Indigenous Photo Exhibition and Conference, University of California at Davis.
  • Carniege Library and Museums, 557 Lincoln, Historic Roseville, CA 95678; (916) 773-3003. "Eclectic collection of items, trains, movies, music and books throughout the centuries. Historic model train replicas of Roseville through the years."
  • Catalina Island Museum, Casino Building, #1 Casino Way, P. O. Box 366, Avalon, CA 90704; (310) 510-2414. Catalina is an island accessible only by boat or airplane. There are exhibits relating to the Catalina Island mines, a Native American soapstone quarry, and possibly information on the Catalina Island stone quarries.

    • Catalina Island Museum Collections

  • Centennial Heritage Museum - The Centennial Heritage Museum has changed it’s name Heritage Museum of Orange County
  • Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum - Links to Related Railroad, Photography and History Web Sites.
  • Cherokee Museum, Location: 4226 Cherokee Road, Oroville, CA 95965; (530) 533-1849; Mailing address: 1084 Montgomery Street, Oroville, CA 95965.
  • Chester-Lake Almanor Museum (Plumas County), 210 First Avenue, Chester, CA; (530) 258-2742. (Includes information and artifacts from the Maidu culture, the construction of Lake Almanor Dam, and many other subjects.
  • Chew Kee Store Museum (Amador County), Main St., Fiddletown, California.
  • Chico Museum, 141 Salem Street, Chico CA 95926; (530)891-4336. (The Museum houses the artifacts from Chico's Chinese Temple and displays relating to the history of Chico and the surrounding area.)
  • Chinese American Museum, Los Angeles, California.
  • Chinese Temple (Butte County), 1500 Broderick, Oroville, CA 95965; (530) 538-2496. (There are three separate temples - the Buddha, the Taoist and the Confucionist, built by Emperor Tung Chi in the 1860s.)
  • Coleman Memorial Community Museum, Location: 13544 Centerville Road (in Butte Creek Canyon) Chico CA 95927; (530) 342-9124.
  • Collections in California Museum (MOAC)
  • Colma History Guild Mini-Museum (See: Daly City/Colma History Guild Mini-Museum below.)
  • Columbia State Historic Park, P. O. Box 151, 22708 Broadway Street, Columbia, CA 95310-9400; (209) 532-0150. (In the mid-1800s, Columbia was one of the most important and largest gold mining towns in California. The gold was discovered in 1850, and the town was almost deserted by 1864. Some of the locally quarried marble was used in the construction of someof the buildings in Columbia. The Bell Marble works is located within a short walking distance the town of Columbia on the grounds of the Marble Quarry RV Park.)
  • Colusa County Archives located in the historic Colusa County Courthouse, 546 Jay Street, Colusa; (530) 458-5146. (Call first for appointment.)
  • Colusi County Historical Society, P.O. Box 643, Willows, CA 95988. (The Colusi County Historical Society collects and preserves the history of the present day Colusa, Glenn and Tehama counties.)
  • Community Memorial Museum of Sutter County, Yuba City, California.
  • Crocker Art Museum, 216 O Street, Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 264-5423. (The Crocker Art Museum is located in an Italianate mansion. The Crocker Art Museum was founded in 1885.)
  • Cupertino Historical Society Museum, Quinlan Community Center, 10185 N. Stelling Road, Cupertino, CA 95014; (408) 973-1495.
  • Daly City/Colma History Guild Mini-Museum, located in the reference room of Serramonte branch of the Daly City Library, 40 Wembley Drive, (Gellert Park), Daly City; (650) 755-5123.
  • De Saisset Museum, Santa Clara University, 500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA 95053-0550. Call 408-554-4528. (Near the Mission Santa Clara)
  • Discovery Museum History Center - The Sacramento Museum of History, Science, Space, and Technology, Sacramento, California. (Located in Old Sacramento next to - but not a part of the - Railroad Museum.)

    According to an article in the June 2008 issue of the Yolo County Historical Society newsletter, “The History and Technology (Museum) begins with crossing the Great Plains and some of the more common items those hearty adventurers brought with them. River transportation was an important part of Sacramento’s early days....”)

  • Discovery Museum Science and Space Center, 3615 Auburn Boulevard, Sacramento, CA; (916) 575-3941.
  • Donner Memorial State Park, 12593 Donner Pass Road, Truckee, CA 95737; (530) 582-7892. (Exhibits relating to the Donner Party who left Springfield, Illinois, to come to California in the spring of 1846. They were stranded in the snow at Donner Lake.)
  • Downieville Museum (Sierra County), 330 Main Street, P. O. Box 484, Downieville, CA 95936; (916) 289-3423.
  • Drum Barracks Civil War Museum and Research Library, 1502 Banning Blvd. Wilmington, CA 90744; (310) 548-7509 (The museum is housed in the last remaining building of Camp Drum, U.S. Army headquarters for the Southwest from 1861- 1871. The museum includes displays on the California Troops during the Civil War and Post-Civil War period as well as the history of the Los Angeles harbor area.)
  • E Clampus Vitus, Paradise Chapter 7/11; P.O. Box 1670, Paradise, CA 95967; (530) 872-7473. (This chapter dedicates monuments to honor individuals or groups of pioneers who came west. It also researches the trails and lives of these pioneers.)
  • Eagle Mining Company, P. O. Box 624, 2320 C Street Ext., Julian, CA 92036; (760) 765-0036. (There is a museum near the Eagle Mining Company that displays some gold mining equipment.)
  • Eastern California Museum, P. O. Box 206, 155 N. Grant Street, Independence, CA 93526; (760) 878-0364.
  • El Dorado County Historical Museum, 104 Placerville Drive, Placerville, CA 95667-3910; (916) 621-5865 (530) 521-5865.
  • Edward Peterman Museum of Railroad History, 1005 Railroad Avenue, Santa Clara, CA 95050; (408) 243-3969.
  • The Ehmann Home Museum (Butte County), Located: 1480 Lincoln Street, Oroville; U.S. Mail address: P.O. Box 2195, Oroville, CA 95965; (530) 533-5316. (The Ehmann Home Museum is operated by the Butte County Historical Society.)
  • El Paso de Robles Area Pioneer Museum, 2010 Riverside Avenue, Paso Robles, CA 93446; (805) 239-4556. (This museum includes exhibits on mining equipment from the local gold, lead, and mercury mines.)
  • Emigrant Trail Museum Donner Memorial State Park (Nevada County), 12593 Donner Pass Road, Donner, CA; (530) 582-7892.
  • Empire Mine State Historic Park, 10791 E. Empire Street, Grass Valley, CA 95945-7432; (530) 273-8522.
  • Fallbrook Gem and Mineral Society Museum, 123 W. Alvarado St., Fallbrook, CA, 92028, 760-728-1130.
  • Fallon Hotel, (Tuolumne County) 11175 Washington Street, Columbia, CA 95310; (209) 532-1470. (The hotel was opened in 1857 to house the local miners.)
  • Fillmore Historical Museum, P. O. Box 314, 350 Main Street, Fillmore, CA 93015; (805) 524-0948. (This web site is presented by Matthew Rosenberg.)
  • Firehouse Museum, 214 Main Street, Nevada City, CA 95959-2509; (530) 265-5468.
  • Folsom, El Dorado & Sacramento Historical Railroad Association, Inc., P.O. Box 6404, Folsom, CA 95763-6404. (530) 985-6001. (This group preserves, maintains, and records the railroad history the city of Folsom, County of El Dorado, County of Sacramento.)
  • Folsom History Museum, 823 Sutter Street, Folsom, California 95630-2440; (916) 985-2707. (Among the many exhibits, there are presentations on the Native Americans, Chinese settlement, the Sacramento Valley Railroad, the Folsom Prison, and the Folsom Powerhouse. It is also the site of the annual Re-Ride of the Pony Express each year in June.)
  • Folsom Mining Museum – (See the Folsom History Museum above.)
  • Folsom Railroad Museum, 198 Wool Street, Folsom, California.
  • Folsom State Prison & the Retired Correctional Peace Officers Museum at Folsom State Prison Museum – Includes photographs and a video on the history and attraction of Folsom State Prison. Also included is an interview with Jim Brown, the Curator of the Museum.
  • Forest City Historical Association Museum (Sierra County), Located in the Dance Hall Forest City, CA; (916) 287-3413.
  • Foresthill Divide Historical Society Museum (Placer County), Historical Society Museum (Placer County), 24601 Harrison Street, Foresthill, CA 95631-9706; (916) 367-3988 (530) 367-3988; tours (530) 889-6500.
  • Fort Ross State Historic Park (Sonoma County), Location: 12 miles north of Jenner on Highway 1; U. S. Mail address: 19005 Coast Highway 1, Jenner, CA 95450; (707) 847-3286. (The fort was built after Russians and Alaskans arrived in the area in 1812 and built houses and a wooden fort.)
  • Fowler Museum of Cultural History, University of California, Los Angeles, California.
  • Fresno Flats Historical Park (Museum Complex), Sierra Historic Sites Association, P.O. Box 451, Oakhurst, CA 93644; (559) 683-6570.
  • Furnace Creek Visitor Center in Death Valley National Park, Death Valley, CA 92328; (760) 786-2331. (You can view a film of the places to see in Death Valley.)
  • Gaumer's of Red Bluff, Inc. - Mineral & Mining Museum, 78 Belle Mill Rd., Red Bluff, CA 96080.
  • Geology Museum, University of California, Department of Geological and Geophysics, Berkeley, CA 94720; (510) 642-4330, 642-3993.
  • George C. Page Museum of La Brea Discoveries, Rancho La Brea Tar Pits in Hancock Park, 5801 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90036-4539; (323) 857-6311. (For more information about the La Brea Tar Pits, click here.)
  • Gilroy Museum, 195 Fifth Street, Gilroy, CA 95020; (408) 848-0470. (The museum is located in the 1910 Carnegie Library.)
  • Gold Bug Park – Gold Bug Mine and Hattie Museum, 549 Main Street, Placerville, CA 95667-5609; (916) 642-5232.
  • Gold Country Museum (Placer County), 1273 High Street in Auburn's Gold Country Fairgrounds, Auburn, California 95603-5016; (530) 887-0690; tours (530) 889-6500. (Some of the exhibits include a simulated mine, a small-scale stamp-mill, an assay office exhibit, a miner's cabin, and many exhibits on mining-related subjects.)
  • Gold Country Museums, presented by The California Gold Country, Highway 49 Revisited.
  • Gold Discovery Museum Visitor Center (El Dorado County), P.O. Box 265 - 310 Back Street, Coloma, CA 95613; (916) 622-3470.
  • Gold Nugget Museum, 502 Pearson Road, P. O. Box 949, Paradise, CA 95969-5114; (530) 872-8722.
  • Gold Rush Country, California - Building Materials (1998 trip) This is a photographic tour of selected buildings and structures in the Gold Rush Country of California starting at Mariposa in Mariposa County heading northward to Auburn in Placer County.
  • Golden Drift Museum (AKA Dutch Flat Museum) (Placer County), 32820 Main Street, Dutch Flat, P. O. Box 253, CA 96714; (916) 389-2126.
    http://www.placer.ca.gov/museum/goldrift.htm
  • Golden Gate Railroad Museum (San Francisco County), Located at Hunter's Point Shipyard in San Francisco; (415) 822-8728. (The museum presents extensive collections of operating historic railroad equipment.)
  • Golden State Museum, California Archives Building, 1020 O St., Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 653-7524.
  • Governor's Mansion State Historic Park, Sacramento, California; (916) 445-4209. (Sacramento County) (The Governor's Mansion housed California's governors from 1903 when it became the official residence until 1967 when Ronald Reagan became the last occupant.)
  • Grass Valley Museum (Nevada County), Old Mt. St. Mary's Academy, 410 S Church Street, Grass Valley, CA 95945; (916) 272-4407 and (916) 272-4725.
  • Griffith Quarry Park and Museum, Placer County Department of Museums, 101 Maple Street, Auburn, CA 95603; (530) 889-6500, Taylor and Rock Spring roads, Penryn, CA 95663; (916) 663-1837; Tours.

    The following information on the Griffith Quarry Museum is taken from A Guidebook to Mining In America: Volume 1: West (The Dakotas, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and farther West), by John R. Park, Stonerose Publishing Co., Miami, Florida, April, 2000," available at Stonerose Publishing Company. The following quotation is used with permission of the author, John R. Park. This book is available on amazon.com.)

    "Griffith Quarry Museum

    "The museum is housed in the original office of the Penryn Granite Works. The museum contains only a few small granite finishing tools and historical photos, as well as miscellaneous non-mining artifacts. In addition, there is a trail surrounding the former quarry with numbered stops. So, if you can't visit when the Museum is open, it is best to write ahead for a trail guide. Picnic tables are available. In spite of railings and fences, the quarry is a dangerous place for unsupervised children.

    "The quarry was started by Griffith Griffith in 1864 and operated until 1918. The foundations of the San Francisco Mint…, portions of the State capitol, and other building (sic) are built of granite from the Griffith Quarry. The first successful granite polishing mill in California began operation on the site in 1874. An untitled hand-drawn map that identifies the trail stops (identified by numbered post) is necessary if you wish to take the quarry trail (and is available only when the Museum is open, or by mail). The map identifies the sites of the boiler building, the blacksmith shop, iron anchors (used with steel ropes to support the derricks), and the best overlooks and view. The reverse side contains two historic line-art illustrations of the working quarry and processing works."

  • Haggin Museum in Stockton, California (local and regional history)
    • Collections
    • Art Collections
    • History Collection
    • Library/Archive
    • Bierstadt Paintings
  • Harmony Borax Works in Death Valley National Park. (Some borax-processing equipment is on display. This link was presented on Tom's Domain.)

  • Heritage Museum of Orange County (previously named “The Centennial Heritage Museum”) in Santa Ana, California. (The museum is a cultural and natural history center dedicated to preserving, promoting and restoring the heritage of Orange County and the surrounding region.)

  • Hi-Desert Nature Museum (AKA Yucca Valley Museum), 57098 Twentynine Palms Highway, Yucca Valley, CA 92284-2968; (760) 369-1303. (This museum includes some mineral exhibits.)
  • Historical Society of Long Beach Gallery & Historical Research Center, Location: The Breakers, 210 E. Ocean Boulevard, Arcade Level, Long Beach; U.S. Mail address: P.O. Box 1869, Long Beach, CA 90801; (562) 495-1210.
  • History Guild of Daly City/Colma – See: Daly City/Colma History Guild Mini-Museum above.
  • History Museums of San Jose, California

  • History San Jose in Kelley Park, 1650 Senter Road, San Jose, CA 95112-2599; (408) 287-2290.
    

  • Ide Adobe State Historic Park, 21659 Adobe Road, Red Bluff, CA 96080; (530) 895-4303.
  • Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park and Chaw'se Regional Indian Museum, Located 9 miles east of Jackson (Hwy 88 to Pine Grove), northeast of Pine Grove on Pine Grove-Volcano Road; U.S. Mail address: 14881 Pine Grove-Volcano Rd., Pine Grove, CA 95665; (209) 296-7488. (The museum is dedicated to the Native Sierra people.)
  • Indian Valley Museum, Located in historic Indian Valley in the town of Taylorsville, California; U.S. Mail address: P.O. Box 136, Taylorsville, CA 95983; (530) 284-7763 or (530) 284-6841.
  • Japanese American National Museum, Los Angeles, California.
  • Julian Pioneer Museum, P. O. Box 511, 2811 Washington Street, Julian, CA 92036; (760) 765-0227. (The museum includes exhibits with gold mining equipment.)
  • Jurupa Earth Science Museum and Warehouse Museum in the Jurupa Mountains Cultural Center, 7621 Granite Hill Drive, Riverside, CA 92509; (909) 685-5818. (Exhibits include minerals from the Crestmore limestone quarry and other California minerals.)
  • Kennedy Gold Mine (Amador County), located near Jackson, California; (209) 223-9542.
  • Kern County Museum, 3801 Chester Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301-1345; (805) 861-2132.
  • Kern Valley Museum, P. O. Box 651, 49 Big Blue Road, Kernville, CA 93238; (619) 379-6683.
  • Knight Foundry, 81 Eureka Street, Sutter Creek, CA 95685; (209) 267-0201.
  • Knights Ferry Visitor Center (Stanislaus County), near the covered bridge, Knights Ferry, California.
  • Korean American Museum, Los Angeles, California.
  • Lake County Historical Museum, 255 Main Street, North, Lakeport, CA 95453-4830; (707) 263-4555.
  • Lake Tahoe Museum, 3058 Lake Tahoe Boulevard, South Lake Tahoe, CA; (530) 541-5458.
  • Lassen County Historical Society Museum, located on Weatherlow Street in Susanville; U.S. Mail address: P.O. Box 321, Susanville, CA 96130; (530) 257-3292 or (530) 253-3434.
  • Laws Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum and Historic Site, P. O. Box 363, Highway 6, Bishop, CA 93514; (760) 873-5950.
  • Leland Stanford Mansion State Historic Park, (former Governor, senator and railroad baron Leland Stanford), 802 N St., Sacramento, California,CA 95814; (916) 324-0575.
  • Lomita Railroad Museum, 2137 250th Street, Lomita, CA 90717-2217; (310) 326-6255.
  • Lompoc Museum, 200 S. H Street, Lompoc, CA 93436-7297; (805) 736-3888. (The museum provides information on quarrying or mining of diatomite.)
  • Los Altos History House Museum, located in the historic J. Gilbert Smith house, 51 S. San Antonio Rd., Los Altos, CA 94022; (650) 948-9427.
  • Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History
    • Seaver Center for Western History Research "The purpose of the Seaver Center for Western History Research is to collect, preserve, and make available to the general public research materials documenting the history of the trans-Mississippi West with special emphasis on Southern California and Los Angeles."
  • Los Gatos Museum (AKA Los Gatos Arts & Natural History Museum), 4 Tait Avenue, Los Gatos, CA 95030-5939; (408) 354-2646.
  • Lower Lake Old Schoolhouse Museum, 16435 Morgan Valley Road, Lower Lake, CA 95457; (707) 995-3565.
  • Loyalton Museum (Sierra County), Loyalton Community Hall, Loyalton, CA; (916) 993-6754.
  • Madera County Museum, P. O. Box 478, 210 W. Yosemite Avenue, Madera, CA 93637-3533; (209) 673-0291.
  • Maidu Museum and Historic Site, 1960 Johnson Ranch Drive, Roseville, CA. 95661; (916) 772-4242.
  • Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park and Museum, 23579 N. Bloomfield-Graniteville Road, Nevada City, CA 95959-9223; (530) 265-2740. (Hydraulic gold mining area.)
  • Mammoth Museum, 5489 Sherwin Creek Road, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546; (760) 934-6918.
  • Mariposa Museum and History Center (Mariposa County), Mariposa, CA 95338; (209) 966-2924..
  • Marshall Gold Discovery State Historical Park and Gold Discovery Museum, P. O. Box 265, 310 Back Street, Coloma, CA 95613; park (530) 522-3470; museum (530) 522-1116.
  • Mary Aaron Museum, 704 D Street, Marysville, CA 95901-5319; (530) 743-1004.
  • Maturango Museum of the Indian Wells Valley, Historical Society of the Upper Mojave Desert, P. O. Box 1776, 100 East Las Flores, Ridgecrest, CA 93556-3654; (760) 375-6900.
  • McHenry Museum, 1402 I Street, Modesto, CA 95354-1017; (209) 577-5366.
  • Menlo Park Historical Association, located at the Menlo Park Public Library, 800 Alma St., Menlo Park, CA 94025; (650) 858-3368.
  • Mineral and Fossil Museums, Exhibits, & Displays in the United States - California
  • Mission San Juan Capistrano, P.O. Box 697, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92693. Call 949-234-1300.
  • Modoc County Museum, 600 South Main Street, Alturas, (530) 233-6328.

  • Mojave National Preserve, Needles Resource Area Office, Bureau of Land Management, P. O. Box 888, 101 East Spikes Road, Needles, CA 92363-4213; (720) 326-8812. (There are some abandoned mines in the scenic area.)

  • Mojave River Valley Museum, 270 E. Virginia Way, Barstow, CA 92311-3923; (760) 256-5452. (Artifacts from the Calico early man excavation are on exhibit in this museum.)
  • Mono Basin Historical Museum, 129 Main Street, Lee Vining, CA 93541; (760) 647-6461.
  • Morgan Hill Historical Museum, 600 W. Main Ave., Morgan Hill, CA 95037; (408) 779-5755.
  • Museum of Art and History, Santa Cruz, California, at the McPherson Center, Santa Cruz, California.
  • Museum of the City of San Francisco, 2801 Leavenworth St., Third Floor, San Francisco, CA 94133; (415) 928-0289.
  • Napa Valley Museum, 55 Presidents Circle, Yountville, CA 94599; (707) 944-0500.

    Mission Statement:   “The Napa Valley Museum provides a venue for unique experiences that enrich the cultural fabric of our community through exhibitions and educational programs. The Museum places the Napa Valley in a worldwide context by inspiring residents and visitors to learn about the art, history, and environment of the region.”

  • National Maritime Museum, Fort Mason, Building 201, 900 Beach Street, San Francisco, CA; 94109-1002; (415) 556-3002. (Included in the museum is an exhibit on the transportation of goods during the gold rush period and an exhibit on the "scow schooners" used to transport material within the San Francisco Bay area.)
  • Natural History Museum of Los Angeles
  • Nevada County, California, Historical Society Museums
    • The North Star Mine Museum, is located at Allison Ranch Road, Grass Valley. (Display of mining equipment)
    • The Searls Library is located at 214 Church St., Nevada City, California (This library contains an extensive collection of recorded documents, mining claims, year books and other original records of the gold rush and mining period.)
    • The Video Museum, located in Memorial Park in Grass Valley.
  • New Almaden Mercury Mining Museum (AKA New Almaden Quicksilver County Museum, AKA Quicksilver County Park Mining Museum), 21350 Almaden Road, San Jose, CA 95120; (408) 323-1107.
  • North American Indian Annex (Placer County), Located in the historic Civic Center, 1225 Lincoln Way, Auburn, CA 95603; (530) 889-6500. (The collection includes over 400 items from California, the Southwest, the Northwest Coast, Alaska and the Eastern tribes.)
  • North Bloomfield Museum (Nevada County), Located in Cummins Hall, Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park, 23579 N. Bloomfield Rd., Nevada City, CA 95959; (916) 265-2740.
  • Northern California Museums; from March/April 2001 issue, California Geology Magazine, California Geological Survey [PDF]
  • Northern Mariposa County History Center, P. O. Box 149, 10301, Highways 49 and 132, Coulterville, CA 95311; (209) 878-3015.
  • Northstar Mining Museum (AKA North Star Powerhouse and Pelton Wheel Mining Exhibit and Pelton Wheel Mining Museum) (Nevada County), 10933 Allison Ranch Road Grass Valley, CA 95949-9608; (916) 273-4255. (530) 273-4255.
  • Oakland Museum of California
    • Oakland Museum of California History
  • Old Mission Dolores (San Francisco County), Dolores and 16th streets, San Francisco, California; (415) 558-3546.
  • Old Sacramento State Historic Park Old Sacramento, (916) 324-0539 or (916) 445-7373. (The park encompasses most of Sacramento's original downtown area, the State Railroad Museum, and the B. F. Hastings building, which was the western terminus for the Pony Express in addition to many other historical sights.)
  • Old-Timers Museum (Calaveras County), 470 Main St., Murphys, CA 95247; (209) 728-1160.
  • Oregon-California Trails Association (OCTA), U.S. Mail address: P.O. Box 1019, Independence, MO 64051-0519 or call (816) 252-2276. ("The Oregon-California Trails Association, founded in 1982, is a not-for-profit organization, headquartered in Independence, Missouri, dedicated to education about, preservation and enjoyment of the trans-Mississippi emigrant trails.")
  • Orland Historical and Cultural Society, U.S. Mail address: P.O. Box 183, Orland CA 95963; (530) 865-3781.
  • Pacific Asian Museum, Pasadena, California.
  • Griffith Quarry Park and Museum, Taylor and Rock Spring Roads, Penryn, CA 95663; (916) 663-1837; Tours: (530) 889-6500.
  • Pittsburg Historical Society Museum (Contra Costa County), P. O. Box 1816, Pittsburg, CA 94565; (925) 439-7501.
  • Placer County Courthouse Museum, 101 Maple Street, Auburn, CA 95603-5026; (530) 889-6500.
  • Plumas County Museum, 500 Jackson Street Quincy, CA 95971; (530) 283-6320.
  • Portola Railroad Museum and the Feather River Rail Society, Location: Portola on Highway 70 along the Feather River Route, U.S. Mail address: P.O. Box 608, Portola, CA 96122; (530) 832-4131.
  • Portuguese Historical Museum, San Jose, California.
  • Providence Mountains State Recreational Area, California Parks and Recreation Department, 43779 15th Street West, Lancaster, CA 93534-4754; (805) 942-0662. (There are abandoned mines in this recreational area.)
  • Railway & Locomotive Historical Society, Southern California Chapter, Pomono, California.
  • Ramona Bowl Museum, located on the grounds of the Ramona Bowl in Hemet, 27400 Ramona Bowl Road, Hemet, CA 92544; (909) 658-3111.
  • Rancho La Brea Tar Pits in Hancock Park, George C. Page Museum of La Brea Discoveries, 5801 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90036-4539; (323) 857-6311. (For more information on the La Brea Tar Pits, click here.)
  • Randsburg Desert Museum, 156 Butte Avenue, Randsburg, CA 93554; (760) 374-2111.
  • Redding Museum of Art and History, Location: 56 Quartz Hill Road in Caldwell Park, Redding, California, U.S. Mail address: P. O. Box 990427, Redding, CA 96003; (530) 243-8801.
  • Redwood City Public Library Local History Collection, 1044 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, CA 94063; (415) 780-7026.
  • Ridge Route Communities Museum and Historical Society, Location: at the corner of Cuddy Valley and Lockwood Valley roads in Lake of the Woods; U.S. Mail address: P.O. Box 684, Frazier Park, CA 93225; (805) 245-7747.
  • Riverside Municipal Museum, Riverside, California, 3580 Mission Inn Avenue, Riverside, CA 92501-3307; (909) 782-5273. (This museum includes items from the Crestmore limestone quarry.)
  • Rocklin History Museum, presented by the Rocklin Historical Society, 3895 Rocklin Road at the corner of San Francisco Street, Rocklin, CA; (916) 624-3464; Open Wednesday and Saturday, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  • Roseville Telephone Company Museum, 106 Vernon Street, Roseville, CA 95678; (916) 786-1621.
  • Sacramento Archives and Museum Collection Center (SAMCC)
  • Sacramento History Museum (AKA Discovery Museum), 101 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814-2204; (916) 264-7057. (The museum is in Old Sacramento.)
  • Sacramento History Online
  • Sacramento Museum Guide
  • The Sacramento Museum of History, Science, Space, and Technology (AKA the Discovery Museum History Center), Sacramento, California. (Located in Old Sacramento next to - but not a part of the - Railroad Museum.)

    According to an article in the June 2008 issue of the Yolo County Historical Society newsletter, “The History and Technology (Museum) begins with crossing the Great Plains and some of the more common items those hearty adventurers brought with them. River transportation was an important part of Sacramento’s early days....”)

  • Sacramento Valley Museum, Location: 1491 E St., Williams, CA; U.S. Mail address: P.O. Box 1437, Williams, CA 95987; (530) 473-2978.
  • Saint George Hotel, P. O. Box 9, 16104 Main Street, Volcano, CA 94689; (209) 296-4458. (The Saint George Hotel was built in 1862.)
  • San Bernardino County Museum, 2024 Orange Tree Lane, Redlands, CA 92374-4560; (909) 798-8570. (This museum includes exhibits relating to mining equipment.)
  • San Bruno History Room located at the San Bruno Public Library, 701 West Angus Avenue, San Bruno, CA 94066l; (650) 877-8878.
  • San Carlos Historical Museum, 533 Laurel Street, San Carlos, CA 94070; (650) 595-5842.
  • San Diego History Center Museum
  • San Diego Natural History Museum, 1788 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA 92101; (619) 232-3821. (The museum includes displays of mining equipment and a pegmatite mine tunnel.)
  • San Dimas Museum and Historical Society, Location: 210 W. Bonita Avenue in San Dimas; U.S. Mail address: P.O. Box 871, San Dimas, CA 91773; (909) 592-1190.
  • San Francisco Maritime Park Association
  • San Francisco – Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco
    • San Francisco History by Subject
  • San Jose Historical Museum in Kelley Park, 1650 Senter Road, San Jose, CA 95112-2599; (408) 287-2290. - See: History San Jose
  • San Mateo County Historical Museum, San Mateo County Historical Association, 1700 West Hillsdale Boulevard, San Mateo, CA 94402.
  • Santa Barbara Historical Museum, Santa Barbara, California.
  • Santa Clara County Railroad Museum, California Trolley and Railroad Corporation, presented on Wikipedia.
  • Santa Clara Historic Museum, located in the Headen-Inman House, 1509 Warburton Avenue, Santa Clara, CA 95050-3712; (408) 248-2787.
  • Santa Cruz City Museum of Natural History, 1305 East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, CA 95062. (One of the exhibits in the museum is on the local lime kilns and lime industry.)
  • Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History
  • Santa Paula Union Oil Museum (Aka Unocal Oil Museum; AKA California Oil Museum; AKA Union Oil Museum), 1001 E. Main Street, P. O. Box 48, Santa Paula, CA 93060-2809; (805) 933-0076.
  • Saratoga Historical Museum, 20450 Saratoga-Los Gatos Road, Saratoga, CA 95070; (408) 867-4311.
  • Scotty's Castle in Death Valley National Park (619) 786-2392.
  • Searls Historical Library (Nevada County), 214 Church St., Nevada City, CA 95959; (916) 265-5468 and (916) 265-5910.
  • Seymour Pioneer Museum (San Francisco County), operated by the Society of California Pioneers, 300 4th Street, San Francisco, CA 94107; (415) 957-1849.
  • Shasta State Historic Park, Location: Highway 299 about five miles west of Redding, California; U.S. Mail address: P.O. Box 2340, Shasta, CA 96087 or call (530) 243-8194. (The remains of Shasta City, once one of the earliest gold rush towns in California, today is a part of this historic park.)
  • Shenandoah Valley Museum (Plymouth County), 14430 Shenandoah Road, Plymouth, CA; mailing address: 12300 Steiner Rd, Plymouth, CA 95669; (209) 245-6554.
  • The Sherman Indian Museum, Riverside, California.
  • Shoshone Museum, P. O. Box 38, Shoshone, CA 92384-0038; (760) 852-4414. (Information on local borax mining and the Tonapah and Tidewater Railroad is available at the museum.)
  • Sierra College, Natural History Museum
  • Sierra County Historical Park and Museum (Sierra County), P. O. Box 260, Sierra City, CA 96125, Highway 49, 1 mile east of Sierra City; (916) 862-1310. (A brochure entitled Sierra City Walking Tour and Lakes Area is available.)
  • Siskiyou County Museum, 910 S. Main Street, Yreka, CA 96097.
  • Society of California Pioneers Collection, 300 4th Street in San Francisco, CA 94107; (415) 957-1849.
  • Sonoma County Museum, 425 Seventh Street W, Santa Rosa, CA 95476-5941; (707) 579-1500. (The museum includes a display on basalt quarrying.)
  • Sonoma State Historic Park, The site of the Bear Flag Revolt, 363 3rd Street West, Sonoma, California 95476-5632; (707) 938-1519. (The Sonoma State Historic Park includes Mission San De Solano, the Sonoma Barracks, the Petaluma Adobe and General Vallejo's Home.)
  • South Bay Historical Railroad Museum, 1005 Railroad Avenue, Santa Clara, CA 95050; (408) 243-3969. (Located in the restored Santa Clara Train Depot.)
  • South County Historical Society – Museum Annex, the "Barn," P.O. Box 633, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420; (805) 481-4126.
  • Southern California Museums, from January/February 2001 Issue, California Geology Magazine, California Geological Survey [PDF]
  • Southwest Museum of the American Indian, Los Angeles, California.  (This mission has been closed.  See:  the Autry National Center.)
    • Southwestern Museum - Braun Research Library
  • Stockton Ore Docks (San Joaquin County) For information contact the Convention and Visitors Bureau, 445 W. Weber Street, Suite 220, Stockton, CA 95203-3189; (209) 547-2770. (During the Gold Rush era, Stockton was one of the main access points.)
  • Sunnyvale Historical Museum, Murphy Park (N. Sunnyvale Ave. at California Ave.), Sunnyvale, CA 94088-1301; (408) 749-0220.
  • Sutter County – Community Memorial Museum of Sutter County, Location: 1333 Butte House Road in Yuba City; U.S. Mail address: P.O. Box 1555, Yuba City, CA 95992; (530) 822-7141.
  • Sutter's Fort State Historic Park, 2701 L Street, Sacramento, CA 95816-5613; (916) 445-7626.
  • Tehama County Museum, Location: C & 3rd streets, Tehama, California; U.S. Mail address: P.O. Box 275, Tehama, CA 96090; (530) 384-2420.
  • Trails West, Inc., Based in Reno, Nevada; U.S.Mail address: Trails West, P.O. Box 12045, Reno, NV 89510; (530) 342-7908. ("A non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to locating and marking the California Trail from southern Idaho to northern California and then helping people enjoy touring the trail.")
  • Trinity County Historical Society - Jake Jackson Museum and History Center, 530 Main St., Weaverville, California; U.S. Mail address: P.O. Box 333, Weaverville, CA 96093; (530) 623-5211.
  • Tuolumne City Memorial Museum, Carter Street and Bay Avenue, Tuolumne, (209) 928-3516.
  • Tuolumne County Museum and History Center, Location: 158 W. Bradford Avenue, Sonora, CA; U.S. Mailing address: P.O. Box 299 Sonora, CA 95370-0299; (209) 532-1317.
  • Twenty Mule Team Museum, 26962 Twenty Mule Team Road, Boron, CA 93516-1560; (619) 762-5810. (There are exhibits on the historic borax industry.)
  • Twentynine Palms Historical Society Museum, 6136 Adobe Road, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277-2652; (760) 367-3445. (This museum includes exhibits relating to the local mining industry.)
  • Underground Gold Miners Museum and the and Sixteen-to-One Mine (Sierra County), P.O. Box 907, Alleghany, CA 96910. (916) 287-3330. (530) 287-3223. (The Alleghany Mining Museum is located in the building where the post office is located.)
  • Utica Park (Mine Site), (Calaveras County) For information contact Calaveras County Lodging and Visitors Association, P. O. Box 637, 1211 South Main Street, Angels Camp, CA 95222-9000; (209) 736-0049; (800) 225-3764. (The park was created in the depression which was the result of subsidence following the collapse of the Utica Mine in 1889.)
  • University of California – Museums and Archives
  • Vacaville Museum: A Center for Solano County History, Vacaville, California.
  • The Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum, 734 Marin Street, in Vallejo's historic Old City Hall, Vallejo, CA; (707) 643-0077.
  • Valley Center History Museum, Valley Center, California.
  • Ventura County Museum of History and Art (The exhibits include mining equipment.)
  • Video History Museum (Nevada County), Central Avenue, off Colfax, Avenue Grass Valley, CA; (530) 274-1126.
  • Weaverville Joss House State Historic Park, Location: in the town of Weaverville; U.S. Mail address: P.O. Box 1217, Weaverville, CA 96093; (530) 623-5284.
  • Wells Fargo Museum in Los Angeles, 333 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90071-1504; (213) 253-7166.
  • Wells Fargo History Museum in Sacramento, Wells Fargo Center, 400 Capitol Mall Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 440-4161.
  • Wells Fargo History Museum in Old Sacramento, At Old Sacramento State Park, 1000 Second Street, Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 440-4263.
  • Wells Fargo Museum in San Francisco, 420 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, CA 94163; (415) 396-3460.
  • Wells Fargo History Museum in San Diego, 2733 San Diego Avenue, San Diego, CA 92110; (619) 238-3929.
  • West Kern Oil Museum, P. O. Box 491, 1168 Wood Street, Taft, CA 93268; (805) 765-6664. (The oil industry in Kern County is the main subject covered by the museum.)
  • Western Railway Museum (Solano County), Rio Vista, California.
  • Wildrose Charcoal Kilns in Death Valley National Park. (Ten charcoal kilns are accessible. There is a 23-page brochure available entitled, Wildrose Charcoal Kilns. The Wildrose Charcoal kilns are located in Wildrose Canyon on the western side of Death Valley National Park.) (The link from which the above information was obtained is no longer available.)
    <http://www.nps.gov/deva/Charcoal.htm>
    • “Wildrose Peak Trail,” (article in PDF format)
    • Photographs of the Wildrose Charcoal Kilns – “Panament Springs Area”
  • William B. Ide Adobe State Historic Park, 21659 Adobe Road, Red Bluff, CA 96080; (530) 895-4303.
  • William Cavalier Museum (Tolumne County), Main Street, Columbia, CA.
  • The Yosemite Museum, National Park Service, Yosemite National Park, CA 95389; (209) 372-0281, 372-0282, and 372-0297.
  • Yuba-Feather Museum and Gold Trader Flat, 19096 New York Flat Road, Forbestown, California; (530) 675-1025.
• Other
  • 1895 U. S. Atlas - California
  • California Almanac, presented by Netstate.com.
  • "California As I Saw It" First-Person Narratives of California's Early Years, 1849-1900. Library of Congress American Memory online exhibit.
  • California Delta Chambers and Visitor Bureau, web site created by Hal Schell.
  • California Scenic Byways, presented by the National Scenic Byways Program.
  • California State Parks by the State of California.
  • California State Parks by the State of California – Gold Rush Overview
  • Cyndi's List – Online Research Resources – California
  • General Town Search (“Search Look-Up for area code & phone prefix and population in the United States. Find the town/city, county, state, and local time & time zone with an interactive map.”)
  • The Getty Center – Architectural Description. In addition to a discussion on the architecture of the Getty Center, there are three online videos available for viewing: Building the Getty; Architect Richard Meier; and Travertine Marble.
  • Google - Maps (Use Google’s Local Map, Satellite, and Hybrid - combination map and satellite image- views to view locations of your choice. Be sure to designate the location in the search field in the Google - Local window.)
  • Guide to 50 States – California

  • A History of Crime in Los Angeles

  • National Geologic Map Database, presented by the United States Geologic Survey.
  • Search for a Place in the United States - U. S. Gazetteer, presented by the U. S. Census Bureau.
  • Thesaurus of Geographic Names, presented by the Getty Information Institute.
  • TopoZone “The TopoZone is the Web's center for recreational and professional topographic map users.” (Includes a place name search form.)
  • Town/County Search Page, presented by RootsWeb.
  • World Almanac for Kids Online – California
  • WorldAtlas.com – California

  • Yale Peabody Museum: GNIS (Search the USGS Geographic Names Database)

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