Mariposa Things to Do

This is an old map I still had. Sorry it didn't scan right, but be my guest and to check out the following web site below. It is the best site I think. They're are two others, but I like this one. It gives much more details of the things to see and do and where to find the location much easier. So check it out please! We enjoyed out time there because of the friendly folks and great weather. We couldn't had asked for better weather that whole time. It was wonderful to stroll around and check out all the neat shops.

Mariposa is known for whats called the Mother Lode. By 1849 a mass immigaration of fortune seekers arrived in the new frontier and the gold strike changed the coarse of our nations history.
The Mining and mineral exhibit features the "Fricot Nugget". A gold nugget that weighs almost 13 pounds. A real mine to venture through, Benotite - The state gem, Metorites from space and so mich more. There is much to see hear and this is a must go while in ther area.

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On our first morning at Poppy Hill Bed and Breakfast outside of Mariposa I woke up as I usually do with the sun. At this time of year it was a little before 7:00 a.m. Since Sue is a later sleeper since she has to get up at 5:00 a.m. when she works, I quietly got out of bed, got dressed and decided to explore a little bit of the area around the Bed and Breakfast.

Immediately when I got out the front door I turned left and saw 2 deer staring at me. That's not too unusual even for a boy from Illinois. As I hiked further up the dirt and gravel road I came upon a few other homes, an old bathtub and a few old cars. Now in our neighborhood there are obvious restrictions about leaving rusty old bathtubs and cars on our property as they would offend the neighbors, but out here they kind of give the surroundings a civilized look. Anyway, I captured those 2 pictures for my personal and VT photo album.

As I walked further up the road I heard some rustling off to the side and a gobbling noise and soon there after a gaggle of wild turkeys fluttered out in front of me. Not knowing that I only wanted to shoot them with my camera instead of a more lethal gun, they scurried off as quick as they could but not before I was able to get off a couple of shots (from the camera that is).

Venturing a little bit further up the road I did hear a shotgun in the distance, so someone was doing a little different type of shooting.

Finally at the end of this road there was a really nice home and to the left there was a pitted dirt road going up a bit more steeply into the unknown. OK, I said to myself, let's see where that will go. I started up the road and probably got about 20 feet before I heard a growling sound. Now being a city/suburban boy I knew that it wasn't a dog, but probably something a bit bigger then I wanted to see that morning, so I slowly backed down the road and like the turkeys before me scurried away as quick as I could.

Later that morning at breakfast I mentioned my walk to Mary Ellen and she said it probably could have been a mountain lion or black bear. More then likely the bear since she had seen one a few days earlier. Whew, glad the next day morning headlines didn't read, vacationer found mauled up on Wild Dove Road.

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Mariposa is also the location of the California State Mining and Mineral Museum, recognized as one of the best museums in the state. This museum has a collection of over 13,000 items relating to the California Gold Rush and other historical items relating to the mining and minerals in California. This is where John C. Fremont and Kit Carson discovered the rich Mariposa vein and established the first mill to crush ore and extract gold in the state. Other items on display include a 13.8 pound nugget of crystalized gold, a gold mine tunnel, and a scale model working stamp mill. Hours are 10 AM to 4 PM Thursday through Sunday 1 October to 30 April, and 10 AM to 5 PM Thursday through Sunday 1 May to 30 September. Admission is $4 for adults and children under 12 are free.

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The Mariposa County Courthouse was built in 1854 using local lumber and is the oldest continuously used courthouse in the state. It was built using a Greek Revival style of architecture. A number of landmark mining cases were tried here and much of the mining law in the United States is based on decisions handed down from this court. There was a fire-proof brick vault added to the building in 1861. The English Clock, with a 267 poung bell was installed in 1866. The bell has sounded out the hour every since its installation. Most of the interior of the courtroom looks just as it did when it was first built.

Mariposa still has its old county jail, a small, one-room stone strcuture on a bluff above downtown. Built in 1858, it was used as the county jail until 1963, when replaced by a newer building near the courthouse.

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Another convenient stroll is the Mariposa Creek walkway. It begins at Best Western and ends about halfway through town. You will enjoy a nice stroll up Mariposa Creek and along the way get to browse at the local foliage including the Claifornia Poppy. All of the flowers and bushes are labeled.

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Also within walking distance of any hotel. Built on 1858 of 24 inch thick granite block. The granite came from a quarry in the Mormon Bar area. Originally it was built with two full stories and a flat roof but after a fire in 1892 was rebuilt with one story and a loft type second story with a gabled roof. Gallows were built in the rear of the building and the last hanging was around 1879.