California - Summer 2007

Trip Summary

Alan and I flew to San Diego where we met Susan and Matt, who flew in earlier from New Orleans. We rented a car at the airport then drove to Carlbad to staty with my Mom and Joni.

Several days later, everyone piled into two cars and we took a road trip to Yosemite National Park. On the way, we stayed in Fresno, and then stayed two nights in the "Ghost Hotel" while we toured the :Gold Rush Trail (California Route 49).

Then we headed up to Yosemite National Park where we stated at the Tenaya Lodge for fours days.

After Yosemite, we drove to Sequoia National Park, where we stayed for one night before going back to Carlsbad.

Leaving Carlsbad

Wake up sleepy head. Time to hit the road!

Following Joni's Car

Following Rental Car, Toyata Camry

Fresno, California

For our first night, we stayed in Fresno. During the evening, we drove around the downtown area, which was deserted and somewhat run down.

Downtown Fresno

Downtown Fresno

Downtown Fresno

The Gold Rush Trail - Day 1: California Highway 49

The next day, we began our two-day tour of the Gold Rush Trail. State Route 49 is a California State Highway that travels in a North-South direction, passing through many historic mining communities of the 1849 California gold rush. Highway 49 is numbered after the "49ers", the waves of immigrants who swept into the area looking for gold, and a portion of it is known as the Gold Country Highway.

Mariposa - Mariposa Museum and History Center

The mission of the museum is to portray the people and lifestyle of Mariposa County from the Indian and Spanish periods to the infamous California Gold Rush as well as the recent past with great authenticity

Five Stamp Mill

The Five Stamp Mill from the Golden Key Mine crushed gold bearing ore in the Whitlock Mining District until 1953. It is the only operational 5 stamp gold ore mill in California.

Horitos

Hornitos is Spanish for "Little Ovens." It got its name from the above ground tombs/graves of some of the Mexican miners, and the town was named after the resemblance of those graves to small ovens (hornitos). They were built that way due to the hard ground and the difficulty in digging deeper graves.

Hornitos - One of the most famous Ghost Towns of the 1800s.

Ghiradelli Chocolate & Cocoa
In 1858 D. Ghirardelli & Co. operated this store.

Coulterville

Coulterville was named after George W. Coulter, who in 1850 established some tent stores in the area with George Maxwell. The Mexican miners who were already working the area gave the town the name Banderita ("little flag") after a small American flag outside Coulter's tent. When the post office was established on Nov. 20, 1852, the town was given the name Maxwell's Creek, but in 1872, the name was changed to Coulterville.

Hotel Jeffery, Coulterville

Built in 1851 for stagecoach passengers on their way to Yosemite, the Hotel Jeffery has hosted gold miners, Presidents, gun fighters, and adventurers from every continent.

National Hotel, Coulterville

In 1859, Heinrich and Hannah Neilson established a hotel, bar and restaurant, that was to become known as the National Hotel. The two wooden buildings were among the first permanent structures in this early (1848) gold-rush town of Jamestown.

Flo, the National Hotel's Friendly Ghost
Photo Source: http://www.national-hotel.com/ghost.html

Flo generally stays upstairs in the hotel, seemingly favoring the rooms in the front of the building although she has, on occasion, been seen early in the morning downstairs, floating through the dining room and right through the walls.

Mokelumne Hill - Where We Stayed Two Nights in the Leger Hotel ("Ghost Hotel")

George Leger first operated the hotel - originally a wood-framed tent that sat on the corner of Main and Lafayette streets. In 1851, records have shown that the hotel - then called the Hotel de France - initially catered to a large French population that had settled into Moke Hill during the Gold Rush.

The Hotel Leger has long held a reputation for being haunted. Stories have circulated from people who swear they've seen something out of the corner of their eyes and strange noises can sometimes be heard. Hotel guests have also reported waking up to find an apparition standing in their room, only to find the spirit disappear when they look more closely. Jane Canty said that Room No. 7, George Leger's old domicile, is often where the unusual goings on occur. "I've walked in there and seen the rocking chair rocking," Jane said, as if someone had just gotten out of it, yet there's no one else upstairs.