Columbia State Historic Park

California's best-preserved Gold Rush town transports visitors to the 1850s. Most of downtown Columbia has been preserved as a living museum where costumed docents and working artisans demonstrate blacksmithing, candle making, and other 19th-century crafts. Historic buildings include the Wells Fargo Office, theaters, saloons, and general stores. Ride a stagecoach, pan for gold, or explore the historic Main Street. The surrounding area offers hiking and mine exploration. Unlike most Gold Rush towns, Columbia never burned down, preserving its authentic brick and wood architecture.