Baltimore Opera Company

Study Guide

La Fanciulla del West
The Girl of the Golden West

Visiting Gold Country

Chris Myers

California's Gold Country is comprised of ten counties stretching from Lake Tahoe to Sacramento and extending about 120 miles south down the western edge of the Sierra Nevada. The region is extremely proud of its heritage and has gone to great lengths to preserve sites of historical significance. Within easy driving distance of San Francisco and Sacramento International airports, Gold Country is filled with natural beauty and historical sites, making it an ideal vacation destination. When you go, be sure to save a couple of days for a visit to the wine country of nearby Napa Valley, as well.

Here are a few attractions you won't want to miss:

Sutter's Fort and Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Parks
Sacramento and Coloma
Sutter's Fort was built by a Swiss immigrant named John Sutter on land granted him by the Mexican government in 1839. Originally named New Helvetia (New Switzerland), his farm was the first non-Indian settlement in the San Joaquin Valley. After he assisted in the rescue of the ill-fated Donner Party in 1847, Sutter's reputation for hospitality became firmly established, and New Helvetia became a popular destination for early pioneers.

In early 1848, James Marshall was inspecting progress on the sawmill he was building for Sutter when he noticed some shiny flecks in the tailrace. News of his discovery spread quickly, and the largest gold rush in American history began. In 1848, the state's non-Indian population was 14,000; by 1852, it had risen to 250,000.

Located in what is now midtown Sacramento, Sutter's Fort has been restored to its 1847 appearance and is a California State Historic Park. Sutter's Mill, where gold was first discovered, is now part of the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park. It is located just outside Sacramento, in Coloma. Both locations feature museums, exhibits, and historic demonstrations and special events throughout the year.
Contact:
Sutter's Fort: 916.445.4422
Marshall Gold Discovery: 530.622.3470
http://www.parks.ca.gov/

Empire Mine State Historic Park
Grass Valley
Until it closed in 1956, Empire Mine was for over a century one of the largest gold mines in California. Located in the Sierra town of Grass Valley, Empire Mine State Historic Park contains most of the mine's original buildings, the owner's home with its restored gardens, 367 miles of abandoned mineshafts, and eight miles of hiking and mountain biking trails. Guided tours of the mining facilities are offered throughout the day.
Contact:
530.273.8522
http://www.parks.ca.gov/

Old Town Sacramento
The city of Sacramento evolved from the pioneer settlements established around Sutter's Fort in the 1840s. Sacramento eventually grew to become the capital of the state of California. By the 20th century, the commercial district had moved further east, and in the 1960s, the city developed a plan to restore a large portion of Old Town to its 19th century appearance. The National Landmark of Old Sacramento consists of 53 preserved and restored historic buildings on 28 acres along the Sacramento River. The area is mainly privately owned and features a large number of shops, restaurants, and businesses. Excursion cruises along the river depart from the public docks. Museums in Old Town include Sutter's Fort, the Wells Fargo Museum, and the California State Railroad Museum, the largest railroad museum in the nation.
Contact:
http://www.oldsacramento.com/
California State Railroad Museum: 916.445.6645; http://www.csrmf.org/
Wells Fargo Museum: 916.440.4263

Angel's Camp
Calaveras County
Mark Twain brought undying fame to this small California mining town when he featured it in his first successful short story, "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County." One of the most important mining towns in the Mother Lode, Angel's Camp hasn't changed much since its gold rush days. Most of the historic buildings have been preserved or restored, although some newer residential neighborhoods have sprung up in the surrounding areas. Buildings of note include the Angel Hotel, the Veteran's Memorial Hall, and the one-room schoolhouse. The town plays host to a number of festivals each year, including the Frog Jumping Jubilee and the Celtic Faire.
Contact:
http://www.angelscamp.com/

Yosemite National Park
In 1864, President Lincoln granted the Yosemite Valley to the State of California as an inalienable public trust-the first time the federal government had set aside land simply for the purposes of protection and ecology. This idea eventually evolved into the National Park System with the creation of Yellowstone National Park in 1872. Thanks in large part to the efforts of conservationist John Muir, Yosemite National Park was created in 1890.

One of the most popular National Parks, Yosemite features stunning beauty and plays host to over four million visitors each year. Prominent natural features include Yosemite Falls (the fifth tallest in the world), Half Dome, El Capitan, and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias.
Contact:
209.372.0200
http://www.nps.gov/yose/

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