Experience Sonora California
Each step down Washington Street in Historic Sonora is a step rich in history. The street was an Indian trail until the Gold Rush transformed it into a mining camp, with canvas tents and colorful flags flying from the brush houses built by the Mexicans. Imagine it with throngs of miners walking down the street, gambling tables made of rough-hewn wooden planks set up in front of each establishment.
These temporary structures were eventually replaced by wooden buildings, most of which burned in the Great Sonora Fire of 1854. The town was then quickly rebuilt, largely with brick.
Many historic buildings from those times remain. The Gunn House, now a hotel, was once the office of the Sonora Herald newspaper, established in 1854. A few blocks west of Washington Street on Bradford sits what was once the county jail, now a museum, with a few jail cells still intact. A tiny park near the museum has early gold mining equipment--an arastra, a stamping machine, and a Pelton water wheel.
The City Hotel building, once an 1850s elegant hotel, remains, as does, across the street, the Sonora Inn, at the turn into the 20th century considered one of the most elegant hotels in the state.
A block west of Washington Street is the Tuolumne County Courthouse, built in 1898 of distinctive yellow pressed brick. It is still used today.
At the north end of the street is the well-known Red Church, built in 1860. Also the Morgan Mansion. small park with hand fire cart. Fire museum. Veterans hall with military museum.
Sonora has many places to eat, from coffee houses to formal restaurants offering Mexican (of course), Chinese, Thai, pasta and Italian, and Barbecue and steak.
Informal places include sandwich shops, including bagel sandwiches, hot dogs, pizza, and light fare at various coffee houses, and ice cream. One sandwich & ice cream store has a historic saloon bar and the downstairs bookstore has the look of an underground quartz mine.
There is also shopping, with gift shops and antique stores carrying many unique items.
Each step down Washington Street in Historic Sonora is a step rich in history. The street was an Indian trail until the Gold Rush transformed it into a mining camp, with canvas tents and colorful flags flying from the brush houses built by the Mexicans. Imagine it with throngs of miners walking down the street, gambling tables made of rough-hewn wooden planks set up in front of each establishment.
These temporary structures were eventually replaced by wooden buildings, most of which burned in the Great Sonora Fire of 1854. The town was then quickly rebuilt, largely with brick.
Many historic buildings from those times remain. The Gunn House, now a hotel, was once the office of the Sonora Herald newspaper, established in 1854. A few blocks west of Washington Street on Bradford sits what was once the county jail, now a museum, with a few jail cells still intact. A tiny park near the museum has early gold mining equipment--an arastra, a stamping machine, and a Pelton water wheel.
The City Hotel building, once an 1850s elegant hotel, remains, as does, across the street, the Sonora Inn, at the turn into the 20th century considered one of the most elegant hotels in the state.
A block west of Washington Street is the Tuolumne County Courthouse, built in 1898 of distinctive yellow pressed brick. It is still used today.
At the north end of the street is the well-known Red Church, built in 1860. Also the Morgan Mansion. small park with hand fire cart. Fire museum. Veterans hall with military museum.
Sonora has many places to eat, from coffee houses to formal restaurants offering Mexican (of course), Chinese, Thai, pasta and Italian, and Barbecue and steak.
Informal places include sandwich shops, including bagel sandwiches, hot dogs, pizza, and light fare at various coffee houses, and ice cream. One sandwich & ice cream store has a historic saloon bar and the downstairs bookstore has the look of an underground quartz mine.
There is also shopping, with gift shops and antique stores carrying many unique items.
Gold Rush History
In its Gold Rush heydey Sonora was the most ethnically diverse, cosmopolitan, and tolerant town in the Sierra. It was the only town with a significant number of women.
The town's existence resulted from conflicts that Mexican miners from the province of Sonora had with American miners when they tried to mine near Jamestown. The Mexican miners eventually moved a few miles up Woods Creek--where Americans thought there was no gold--and found a rich supply of the metal.
It was originally known as Sonorian Camp, and miners from Chile, Peru, Argentina, France, and other countries came as well as Mexicans. The Mexicans and South Americans, unlike the Americans, brought their women. Later women from France and elsewhere, hearing of the large population of women, came here too.
Weekends in Sonora were a wild scene, as miners from camps all around came to town for supplies and recreation. There was much gambling, drinking with the most expensive spirits, bull fights, even fights between bulls and Grizzly bears. Many costly items were on sale that miners could pay for with the gold they had recovered with only a few hours of work.
In late 1849 a town government was established with the name of Sonora, with a Town Council who were Americans but sympathetic to the foreigners. The town organization allowed the construction of a hospital, needed because large numbers of the Mexican miners were suffering from scurvy. The population was about 5,000.
In June 1850 the new California legislature's ill-conceived Foreign Miners Tax took effect, levying a $20 per month tax on all foreign miners, far beyond the ability of the average miner to pay. Overnight the population of the town decreased by four fifths. The town became dangerous, with many people attacked in their tents while sleeping or on the roads, by marauders who were thought to be Mexicans.
Sonora's town leaders hired a well-known attorney to challenge the law as unconstitutional, but this was unsuccessful. Eventually, however, the tax was repealed, then later followed by a tax at a much lower rate.
After the placer gold from the streams was mostly played out, Sonora continued as a gold-mining region because of its substantial underground "pocket" mines, in which highly concentrated gold could be found in the quartz. This was before the technology existed to extract gold from low-grade quartz and gold rock. Sonora's pocket mines and its status as the county seat and business center of the Southern Mines allowed it to survive while many other mining camps became ghost towns.
For more on the history of the town see History of Sonora and Life at Sonora 1849-52
In its Gold Rush heydey Sonora was the most ethnically diverse, cosmopolitan, and tolerant town in the Sierra. It was the only town with a significant number of women.
The town's existence resulted from conflicts that Mexican miners from the province of Sonora had with American miners when they tried to mine near Jamestown. The Mexican miners eventually moved a few miles up Woods Creek--where Americans thought there was no gold--and found a rich supply of the metal.
It was originally known as Sonorian Camp, and miners from Chile, Peru, Argentina, France, and other countries came as well as Mexicans. The Mexicans and South Americans, unlike the Americans, brought their women. Later women from France and elsewhere, hearing of the large population of women, came here too.
Weekends in Sonora were a wild scene, as miners from camps all around came to town for supplies and recreation. There was much gambling, drinking with the most expensive spirits, bull fights, even fights between bulls and Grizzly bears. Many costly items were on sale that miners could pay for with the gold they had recovered with only a few hours of work.
In late 1849 a town government was established with the name of Sonora, with a Town Council who were Americans but sympathetic to the foreigners. The town organization allowed the construction of a hospital, needed because large numbers of the Mexican miners were suffering from scurvy. The population was about 5,000.
In June 1850 the new California legislature's ill-conceived Foreign Miners Tax took effect, levying a $20 per month tax on all foreign miners, far beyond the ability of the average miner to pay. Overnight the population of the town decreased by four fifths. The town became dangerous, with many people attacked in their tents while sleeping or on the roads, by marauders who were thought to be Mexicans.
Sonora's town leaders hired a well-known attorney to challenge the law as unconstitutional, but this was unsuccessful. Eventually, however, the tax was repealed, then later followed by a tax at a much lower rate.
After the placer gold from the streams was mostly played out, Sonora continued as a gold-mining region because of its substantial underground "pocket" mines, in which highly concentrated gold could be found in the quartz. This was before the technology existed to extract gold from low-grade quartz and gold rock. Sonora's pocket mines and its status as the county seat and business center of the Southern Mines allowed it to survive while many other mining camps became ghost towns.
For more on the history of the town see History of Sonora and Life at Sonora 1849-52
Events in Sonora
Live Theatre
Live theatre has been a part of Sonora since its earliest days. Sonora today has two theatre companies—Sonora Repertory Theatre and Stage 3 Theatre.
| March 3, 2012–December 29, 2012. Central Sierra Arts Council – 2nd Saturday Art Nights. On the 2nd Saturday of each month, downtown Sonora comes alive as art galleries, shops and eateries swing their doors... Details March 21, 2012–December 19, 2012. Christophers Ristorante Italiano "Ukelele Jam". Ukelele Club Jam - Second Wednesday of every month at Christophers Ristorante Italiano located at the Sonora Inn,... Details April 20, 2012–May 27, 2012. Stage 3 "Superior Donuts". "Superior Donuts" by Tracy Letts. A new comedy from the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of August: Osage County. Details May 5, 2012–May 20, 2012. Central Sierra Arts Council – Tour de Sonora; The Art of Cycling. Guest Curator, Mother Lode Art Association. Details May 19, 2012. Summerville Parent Nursery School "Stars So Bright" @ Indigeny Reserve. Summerville Parent Nursery School (SPNS) is hosting its second annual Stars So Bright Gala at Indigeny Reserve, a... Details May 19, 2012–May 20, 2012. Central Sierra Arts Council – Sonora Arts Trails. Sonora Art Trails sponsored by the CSAC. Details May 19, 2012–May 20, 2012. Sonora Art Trails. 7th Annual Event! Visit artists in their open studios county wide and see how art in our beautiful community is... Details June 1, 2012–July 1, 2012. Sierra Repertory Theatre – "The 39 Steps". Cross a Hitchcock masterpiece with a juicy spy novel, whirl it up with giddy comedy and wildly invented theatrical... Details June 1, 2012–July 15, 2012. Central Sierra Arts Council – George Post and Friends. Guest Curator, Dennis Garcia. Details June 2, 2012. Motorcycle, Car & Truck Show – Standard Park. Bring your motorcycle, car or truck to our family friendly outdoor show to the Standard Park Sports Complex! The cost... Details June 3, 2012. La Bella Rosa Vineyards – 4th Annual Concert in the Vines. Concert in the Vines at La Bella Rosa Vineyards, 2-5pm. Fabulous appetizers, great wines with Big Band crooner Josh... Details June 28, 2012. Central Sierra Arts Council – "Red" at Stage 3. CSAC hosts "Red" at Stage 3 Theatre -- Preview Night -- CSAC fundraiser. Details June 29, 2012–July 29, 2012. Stage 3 "Red". "Red" by John Logan. In this turbo-charged biodrama, painter Mark Rothko has just landed the biggest commission since... Details July 12, 2012–July 15, 2012. Mother Lode Fair 75th Annual. The 75th Annual Mother Lode Fair! Carnival, live entertainment, music, destruction derby, agricultural displays and... Details July 27, 2012–September 2, 2012. Sierra Repertory Theatre "There Goes the Bride". 58 Details July 27, 2012. Sonora Concerts in the Park "Mighty Coyote Hill". Concerts in the Park presents "Mighty Coyote Hill" at 6pm. Details July 27, 2012–October 7, 2012. Central Sierra Arts Council "The Woven Art of the Andes". The Woven Art of the Andes - The Fabric of a Culture. Preview, Member-Donor Reception, 6 to 8pm. Opening Public... Details August 10, 2012. Sonora "Magic of the Night". Come to historic downtown Sonora and enjoy magicians, live music, street acting, dancing and specialty foods!! Details August 31, 2012–October 7, 2012. Stage 3 "November". "November" by David Mamet. There's no way this stuff could actually happen..could it? It's one week away from the... Details September 15, 2012. Phoenix Lake Golf Course – Short & Tall Golf Tourney. Short and Tall Golf Tourney 9am shotgun start, where one child and one adult make a team. Nine holes are played in an... Details September 15, 2012–September 16, 2012. 23rd Annual Quilts & Threads Show. Sierra Quilt Guild's 23rd Annual Quilts & Threads Show! Featuring special exhibits & demonstrations by the Sierra... Details October 5, 2012–October 28, 2012. Sierra Repertory Theatre "Time Stands Still". 75 Details October 7, 2012. The 36th Annual "Sonora Bach Festival" Youth Festival. The Youth Concert: Sunday @ 3pm at the Church of the Forty-Niners in Columbia. The program features outstanding... Details October 13, 2012. The 36th Annual "Sonora Bach Festival" The Salon Concert. The Salon Concert" Saturday @ 6pm at a private home in East Sonora featuring Robin Fisher, lyric coloratura soprano,... Details October 30, 2012. Elks Lodge "Taste for Mentoring" Soup Sampling & Art Show. Soup Sampling & Art Show.. Delicious soups and warm bread will bring community members together in support of the... Details November 16, 2012–December 23, 2012. Stage 3 "Brighton Beach Memoirs". "Brighton Beach Memoirs" by Neil Simon. It's about family. It's about dreams. It's about time. No singing Santa's, no... Details November 23, 2012–November 25, 2012. Sonora Christmas Craft & Music Festival. 38th Annual Sonora Christmas Festival! Spirited celebration of the season features music, family vaudeville... Details November 23, 2012–November 24, 2012. Hometown Holiday Craft Faire & Boutique. A variety of crafts and food items will be available for Christmas shoppers in a festive holiday atmosphere! Friday:... Details December 23, 2012. Christmas Parade. Christmas Parade in Historic Downtown Sonora. 29th year of floats, bands, Mr. & Mrs. Claus, store specials and food all... Details (Events are courtesy of the Tuolumne County Visitors Bureau) |
Live Theatre
Live theatre has been a part of Sonora since its earliest days. Sonora today has two theatre companies—Sonora Repertory Theatre and Stage 3 Theatre.
Sonora is the center of the Gold Country Sonora™ region of California