Bodega Bay
Cavan Images/Getty Images
California Geography Essentials
California History Tour
Embrace San Francisco history that goes way back—before any tech boom, or even the Gold Rush. Misión San Francisco de Asís is the oldest building in the city, dating to 1776 when Father Junípero Serra established a string of missions to convert indigenous populations and bolster Spain’s presence in the New World. Nearly 250 years later, the church—named for St. Francis of Assisi, but also known as Mission Dolores, after the nearby creek—still hosts an active congregation. Stop by for services or tour the historic cemeteries and gardens. Check out the basilica’s dazzling stained glass windows, which depict all 21 missions.
Columbia State Historic Park presents the Gold Rush in living, breathing color. Costumed docents do more than lead tours of this carefully preserved Mother Lode town; they actually live and work here in a variety of period-appropriate shops and trades. Catch a ride on an authentic stagecoach, order a cold, locally made sarsaparilla in a Western-style saloon, or feel the heat in a working blacksmith's forge. There’s also a Wells Fargo express office and other relics of California's early mining days. The town even sounds authentic—no cars allowed here, though you will hear the clip-clop of horses.
Free historical tours depart from the museum weekends at 11 a.m. (weekdays too, mid-June until Labor Day). Gold Rush Days take place on 2nd Saturday afternoons; costumed docents lead hands-on crafts and special tours, and kids can try their hand at gold-panning. Summer can get hot and weekends become crowded, so aim for early mornings during the week if you can.
Pages
