Two powerful reasons to travel legendary cultural heritage and awesome outdoor recreation become one in Yosemite Mariposa County. Many of California’s most historic places are here, dating from the original Mono and Miwuk nations through the golden spike of the California Gold Rush and birth of national park lodging. And, soaring granite geology, gargantuan sequoia trees and thundering waterfalls make Yosemite one of the most celebrated wilderness destinations in the world.
In Yosemite Mariposa County, historic preservation is a tightly-held value where “granite meets gold.” Today’s visitors can experience the treasured past, behold monumental Sierra majesty, and stay in some of the most historic hotels in California.
Mariposa
The historic town and county seat, Mariposa is filled with landmarks, legacy, and legends of the California Gold Rush. Heritage lodging options, proclaimed museums, antique and boutique shopping, foodie-fired restaurants and bespoke bars ““ all “Eureka!” worthy. While you’re wandering around, bring the Discover Historic Mariposa (pdf download) map along for wayfinding.
Tucked just off main street in the heart of downtown Mariposa, the historic River Rock Inn checks all the boxes with nine rooms and suites, a verdant garden patio and adorable onsite coffee shop, Sticks Coffee. The original structure at River Rock Inn was built in 1891 and became a hotel in 1941. As with most Mariposa hotels, it’s steps away from shopping, dining, drinks and the YARTS bus bound for Yosemite day trips. Learn more about the River Rock Inn’s owners, Keith and Stephanie Erickson in our Modern Pioneers video on them here.
The Mariposa Hotel Inn stands on the original site of a rollicking hotel/bar that flourished during the California Gold Rush. The current building dates to 1901 with wonderful indoor/outdoor spaces like the Garden Veranda (great for bird watching) overlooking the Mariposa Creek Parkway. Bring your own bottle and apps to enjoy the veranda before heading out to dinner. Six rooms with persona and style; Marguerite’s Room features an original 1901 claw-foot tub!
Historic Hot Spots
“The Best Little Museum of Its Size West of the Mississippi” per the Smithsonian Institution, the Mariposa Museum & History Center rewards visitors with original Gold Rush documents and artifacts, gold displays, artwork, and photos. Local Native American heritage and culture is celebrated with exhibits interpreting the lives of the Mono, Paiute and Miwuk tribes. Check out the California State Mining & Mineral Museum for a golden glimpse into California’s mineral wealth, colorful mining history and geologic diversity.
Coulterville
Located at the historic crossroads of the Golden Chain Highway (SR 49) and the John Muir Highway (J132), Coulterville serves as the perfect base camp for a true Mother Lode experience. The tiny, gold-dusty town’s historic footprint is outsized, and John Muir’s epic 1868 walk from San Francisco to Yosemite took him right through Coulterville on the way to Yosemite Valley. Stretch out your legs and explore the town with a copy of the Coulterville self-guided walking tour.
Coulterville’s cabin and vacation rentals are golden options. Book the Vacation Station for one-of-a-kind California dreaming. This 1964 boxcar and caboose has been lovingly reappointed as a comfy studio with deck and raised seating in its cupola. While we’re talking trains, a time-honored Coulterville attraction is Whistling Billy “” the little steam locomotive that once hauled ore from the Mary Harrison Mine just up the road. Perfect for rail buffs and those who want to have an only-in-Coulterville experience where photo ops abound.
Coulterville’s Hotel Jeffery, est. 1851, entertained notable guests including Teddy Roosevelt, Mark Twain and John Muir, as the town served as a primary stage stop for travelers on their way to Yosemite. Originally a saloon and fandango hall with rock and adobe walls some 30″ thick, Coulterville’s landmark building was rebuilt several times following fires and redesigned with Victorian-esque architecture.
Coming soon: the Jeffery Hotel will reopen as a modern and historically faithful evolution of the Jeffery, set to reopen in 2023 along with the adjacent Magnolia Saloon, the oldest operating watering hole in California. Look for contemporary touches include sustainable, eco-responsible design and operations, EV charging stations, lightning-fast WiFi and chic Western décor.
Historic Hot Spots
The Northern Mariposa County History Center chronicles the life and times of the hardy pioneers who helped settle the area in the early 1800s and fortune seekers drawn here during the 1849 California Gold Rush. With the stone remains of the Coulterville Hotel serving as the front courtyard and the museum itself situated inside the old brick Wells Fargo office 1856, visitors are surrounded by Gold Rush history.
Yosemite Valley
Carved by glaciers and framed by soaring granite walls, Yosemite Valley is the heart of the Park. Titanic geology and thundering waterfalls, sylvan forests and expansive meadows make it timeless and eternal, yet history has pride of place as well.
The Ahwahnee Hotel was the vision of Stephen T. Mather, the first director of the National Park Service. When the Ahwahnee opened its doors in the summer of 1927, it instantly became one of the crown jewels of national park lodges and a must-visit destination within Yosemite Valley for its dining, décor and architecture. The hotel is hewn from steel, stone, concrete, wood, and glass, and is a premier example of the National Park Service’s rustic style.
Curry Village is located in the heart of Yosemite Valley and still known for the trademark hospitality of its founders, David and Jennie “Mother” Curry. “Camp Curry” was founded in 1899 and originally comprised of a dozen tents. Today, this National Historic District is still a prized place to stay. Curry Village features standard hotel rooms, wood cabins and wood-framed canvas tent cabins (some available with heating over the winter months), and numerous dining options and activities are available year-round.
Historic Hot Spots
The Yosemite Museum was completed in 1925, designed by architect Herbert Maier in the newly emerging National Park Service rustic style. It was the first building constructed as a museum in the national park system. Visit the Yosemite National Park website for current hours of operation and check out this virtual tour to get a sense of what’s in store.
Located behind the Yosemite Museum, the Indian Village of the Ahwahnee is a cluster of demonstration buildings that show replica Native American structures including a ceremonial roundhouse, sweat lodge and Chief’s House. The original reconstruction of the village dates back to the 1920’s.
The Ansel Adams Gallery is the world’s most comprehensive and compelling showcase for the famed photographer. National Park history, original and authentic works of art, and one of Yosemite’s best collections of books, maps, handicrafts and Native American jewelry are in store for visitors.
The charming Yosemite Valley Chapel is the oldest building still in public use in Yosemite National Park, built in 1879 under the auspices of the Yosemite Union Chapel Association.
Wawona
The Southern Yosemite town of Wawona provided a year-round refuge for Native Americans, pioneers and early travelers heading to and from Yosemite Valley. There’s something special about Wawona that encourages you to gear down and savor this splendid bowl of Sierra beauty.
The Wawona Hotel serves as one of Yosemite National Park’s keynote lodges. A National Historic Landmark and one of California’s original mountain resort hotels, the property was originally established in 1856 with the main building opening in 1879. The Wawona hosted President Theodore Roosevelt and was the summer home of artist Thomas Hill between 1886 and 1908. Hill was famed for his Yosemite landscape paintings as well as his 1881 classic, The Driving of the Last Spike.
Historic Hot Spots
The newly-named Yosemite History Center celebrates local legacy through a cluster of historic structures. Recent additions interpret an even more nuanced, multi-ethnic history of Yosemite National Park. In particular, new to the Yosemite History Center is the Chinese Laundry, a long lost building that was recently dedicated to honor the many contributions of Chinese and AAPI immigrants to the region that had lasting impacts.
Worthwhile walk-throughs at the Yosemite History Center include Wawona’s mid-1800s Covered Bridge (one of just a handful in California), very popular as a setting for wedding photography. The Powder House, a tiny building built with thick granite walls, was used to store dynamite and, briefly, prisoners as a jail. Displays of authentic wagons, stagecoaches and a working blacksmith shop make this truly a historic hot spot!
To explore lodging options, things to do and places to eat, visit Yosemite.com, the #1 trip planning site for vacations to Yosemite National Park and historic Mariposa County. To stay up to date, follow @YosemiteNation on social media and subscribe to our newsletter, “The Wanderer”. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for great videos on the people and places of Yosemite Mariposa County.