State Parks in Northern California

Step back in time with your family at the fascinating Folsom Powerhouse, a hidden gem of Sacramento history! Kids and adults alike will be amazed by this incredible piece of engineering that brought electricity to our city way back in 1895.

Imagine being there when H.P. Livermore had his brilliant idea – using the rushing waters of the American River to power Sacramento, 22 miles away! It's like a real-life science experiment that changed our city forever. When you visit with your family today, you'll see the powerhouse looking almost exactly as it did over 125 years ago.

The grand opening was like the biggest party Sacramento had ever seen, complete with a spectacular parade downtown and 100 booming cannons fired by real soldiers! Your children will love exploring the original generators that are still in place, marveling at the beautiful Tennessee marble control panel, and discovering the giant General Electric transformers that could handle up to 11,000 volts of electricity – that's enough power to light up thousands of homes!

Don't miss the fascinating water system, with its canals and forebays that carried water from the dam. It's the perfect opportunity to teach kids about how water power works while they see history come alive before their eyes. Make your next family outing an adventure through time at the Folsom Powerhouse – where Sacramento's electric history began!

Step into a real Gold Rush town that's still alive and buzzing with excitement! Columbia State Historic Park isn't just any old historic site – it's your family's ticket to becoming time-traveling explorers in California's famous "Gem of the Southern Mines."

Kids can experience the Gold Rush adventure through hands-on fun:

• Create your own candle just like pioneers did
• Hop aboard a real stagecoach for a thrilling ride
• Sample freshly made chocolates from historic candy shops
• Watch live shows at the Fallon Theatre
• Follow the nature trail for a family-friendly 1-mile hike

Don't miss the fascinating two-story brick schoolhouse where Gold Rush kids once learned their lessons, or explore the hilltop cemetery with amazing views of the town below. Your kids can compare their modern school experience with what it was like in the 1850s!

While most Gold Rush towns disappeared long ago, Columbia stayed standing – which means your family can walk the same streets as real gold miners did and visit shops that are still doing business today. Pack a picnic or grab lunch at one of the historic eateries to make it a full day of family fun and learning!

Get ready to discover one of California's most amazing gold mines! At Empire Mine State Historic Park in Grass Valley, you'll uncover treasures from a mine that produced a whopping 5.8 million ounces of gold over 100 years.

The Coolest Things to See and Do:

• Visit the mysterious "Secret Room" with its incredible scale model showing 367 miles of underground tunnels
• Peek into the actual mine shaft (fun fact: going all the way down would only be "one inch" on the secret model!)
• Explore the fancy mine owner's house and beautiful gardens
• Hit the trails for family-friendly hikes, mountain biking, or horseback riding across 856 acres of forest

Perfect for adventurous families, the park's 14 miles of trails offer easy hiking options for all ages. While most of the real mine tunnels are flooded now, you can still imagine the incredible underground city of tunnels that once stretched for miles beneath your feet!

Want to feel like a real gold miner? Check out the original mine buildings and imagine what it was like to work in one of California's richest gold mines.

Did you know you can visit a real train roundhouse where Hollywood's most famous locomotives come to life? At Railtown 1897 State Historic Park, you'll get to see the actual trains that starred in movies like "Back to the Future Part III" and tons of other films and TV shows!

Meet the Park's Biggest Star:

• Locomotive No. 3, nicknamed "The Movie Star" - this might be the most photographed train in the whole world! See if you can spot it in some of your favorite movies and shows

Your Family's Railway Adventure Includes:

• Watch the amazing turntable spin giant locomotives around (just like a giant lazy Susan for trains!)
• Visit a real blacksmith shop where sparks fly
• Peek inside the machine shop where trains get fixed up, just like they did 100 years ago
• Take an exciting guided tour to see all the behind-the-scenes action
• Hunt for movie props used in famous Hollywood films
• Pick up a cool train souvenir at the Depot Store

Fun Fact for Movie Buffs: More than 200 movies and TV shows have been filmed here! While parents might remember shows like "Petticoat Junction," kids can see where Marty McFly's train scenes from "Back to the Future Part III" were filmed!

Make a Day of It:

• Pack a picnic to enjoy in the park's scenic picnic area
• Visit the interpretive center to learn fun train facts
• Take lots of family photos with these historic movie star trains
• Ask your tour guide about your favorite train movies filmed here

Whether your little ones are train enthusiasts or budding movie directors, Railtown 1897 offers a unique peek into both railroad history and Hollywood magic. Come make some family memories at this one-of-a-kind park where trains and movies come together!

Welcome to Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park - Where Your Family's Gold Rush Adventure Begins!

Do you want to discover real gold just like James Marshall did in 1848? This is the exact spot where the California Gold Rush started when Marshall spotted shiny gold flakes in the river - a discovery that changed America forever!

Become a Real Gold Prospector:

• Learn to pan for gold in just 15 minutes
• Search for real gold flakes, garnets, and fool's gold in special panning troughs
• Keep what you find - maybe you'll strike it rich!

Awesome Things to See and Do:

• Check out the giant sawmill replica where gold was first discovered
• Visit over 20 historic buildings including:A real Chinese store from Gold Rush days
  An old-fashioned schoolhouse (see what school was like in the 1800s!)
  Mining exhibits with real tools used to find gold
  

Fun Family Activities:

• Take a family hike under beautiful oak trees
• Have a picnic by the American River
• Visit the Marshall Monument where the discoverer of gold is buried (the statue points right to where he found the first gold!)
• Watch cool movies about gold discovery and how miners found gold
• Explore the Gold Discovery Museum to see treasures from the Gold Rush

Learn About Everyone Who Lived Here:

• Discover how the Nisenan Indians lived in this beautiful valley they called Cullumah
• See how people from all over the world came rushing to find gold
• Learn how farmers grew food to feed all the gold miners

Make it a full day of family fun by packing a picnic, bringing water bottles, and wearing comfortable shoes for exploring. Don't forget your camera - there are tons of great spots for family photos with real Gold Rush history!

Remember: You're walking the same ground where one of the biggest adventures in American history began. Who knows? Maybe your family will be the next to strike gold!