To Columbia and beyond Part I

I had a downright awesome time at Columbia State Historic Park, located in the Sierra Nevada foothills.



It's a spiffy historic Gold Rush town that used to be known as the "Gem of the Southern Mines".



There are awesome old buildings and things galore!





Soon after gold was discovered in 1850, Columbia became a town of 4,000 to 5,000 peeps.



Gold shipments declined rapidly after 1858 but Columbia lived on unlike many other settlements established during the Gold Rush.  Go, Columbia!



Ooh, jail.  Reminds me when I was imprisoned in that little yellow plastic margarine tub.  Jails always give me the shivers.  Come back for Part II!