Histories Mysteries at Columbia State Park

We invite families or groups to solve an actual crime that occurred in Columbia in the 1800s.  You will witness the event, interview key members to the crime and get a chance to subpoena them in court.  Then you will select one person from your group to question people on the stand.  At the end, you will determine the outcome of the crime.  Contact Columbia State Historic Park at 209-588-9128.   
July 26, 8 am to 5 pm. 

 

Histories Mysteries at Columbia State Park

We invite families or groups to solve an actual crime that occurred in Columbia in the 1800s.  You will witness the event, interview key members to the crime and get a chance to subpoena them in court.  Then you will select one person from your group to question people on the stand.  At the end, you will determine the outcome of the crime.  Contact Columbia State Historic Park at 209-588-9128.   
July 26, 8 am to 5 pm. 

 

Summer Art Camp at Columbia State Park

Summer Arts Camp, June 16 - 20th, is designed to partner children ages 7 to 12 years with local professional artists and performers so students can explore their creative self-expression and appreciation of the arts. Campers meet each morning in the Solari Garden at the corner of Jackson and Columbia Streets. On Friday, June 20 the merchants of Columbia will host a picnic for our young artists during the art show and performance. Registration is on a first come, first served basis. Call the Central Sierra Arts Council for more information – 209-532-2787. 

Columbia Diggins at Columbia State Park

Columbia Diggins

Annual Reenactment of an 1852 Gold Rush Tent Town-May 29-June 1, 2014

During the early days of the California Gold Rush, as miners streamed through the undeveloped hills of the Mother Lode, tent and shanty towns sprung up overnight.  Saloons, boarding houses, restaurants, laundries, express offices, and tent stores offered the homesick miner many goods, services and diversions, and the laws of supply and demand ruled the land.  It didn’t take long for enterprising argonauts to realize that mining the pockets of the miners was an easier way to get their gold.

At Columbia State Historic Park in Tuolumne County in early June of each year, docents and staff recreate an early tent town to demonstrate the daily life of the young state. “It was really an active merchant economy,” according to park staff who help organize the event.  “There were a lot of opportunities for people who knew how to provide a service, or were willing to bring in goods that were in high demand, such as liquor, dry goods, and provisions.  And miners were willing to hand over their newly acquired riches for a few luxuries.”

Park staff and a crew of dedicated volunteers spend hours painstakingly researching the details of daily life of the early tent towns.  “We’ll never know exactly how life was like for those early visitors, but we spend a lot of time reading their journals, newspapers, and studying archeological remains” to cobble together a story of enterprising adventurers, looking to get rich, as well as to have a good time.

Columbia State Park 30th annual lamplight tours

30th Annual Lamplight Tours
December 6 & 7, beginning around 6:00 pm and running every 15 minutes
Take a walk through Columbia on a lamplight-led tour by our costumed volunteers! This year's theme is set in the style of Wilkie Collins-that's right, it's a mystery! Follow your guide from venue to venue and watch the play all come together in the end. It's sure to be a night to remember! Reservations are recommended and can be made after September 1st. Please call (209) 588-9128 for more information.

For special event information please call Columbia State Historic Park at 209-588-9128.

Additional event information may be available at www.columbiacalifornia.com.

Columbia 30th Annual Lamplight Tours

30th Annual Lamplight Tours
December 6 & 7, beginning around 6:00 pm and running every 15 minutes
Take a walk through Columbia on a lamplight-led tour by our costumed volunteers! This year's theme is set in the style of Wilkie Collins-that's right, it's a mystery! Follow your guide from venue to venue and watch the play all come together in the end. It's sure to be a night to remember! Reservations are recommended and can be made after September 1st. Please call (209) 588-9128 for more information.

For special event information please call Columbia State Historic Park at 209-588-9128.

Additional event information may be available at www.columbiacalifornia.com.

Columbia State Park Annual Merry Merchants

6th Annual Merry Merchants
12/14/2012
Hours: 5pm - 8pm
Location: Columbia State Historic Park
Contact: 532-1850 or 536-1672

The Columbia Chamber of Commerce and its Merry Merchants invite you to enjoy an evening of old fashioned Christmas charm in Columbia State Historic Park. Columbia's merchants are open for business Friday evening, December 14, from 5 to 8 pm, for stress-free shopping in the tradition of times gone by. Columbia is decorated for the Christmas season with traditional boughs and wreaths, and docents will be decked out in their old-time finery.

Candy Cane making in Columbia

The Columbia Candy Kitchen will be showing there special way of making traditional candy canes  every Saturday and Sunday at noon through December 21, 2012. Watch through the window as they create these delicious candies. For more information call 532-7886.

Click read more to learn the history of candy canes from candycane.ws.

A Ghostly Weekend in Columbia State Park

Columbia State Park presents a miners Christmas

Miners' Christmas, Columbia, 209-588-9128

17 December, 2011 to
18 December, 2011
This is a daytime event. Sit around a campfire drinking hot cider or coffee, and join in conversation with the miners as they roast chestnuts. Children can create some favorite crafts from the 1850's, and keep an eye out for Father Christmas as he wanders the street looking for good girls and boys. columbiastatepark.com