The Mariposa Museum and History Center is a gem of a place--and a great way to stave off the…read morepost-meal slumber after lunch at 1850! There is SO much information available, and it's stunningly coordinated and handpainted; an art installation on it's own. We learned so much about the local history and area, and it was neat to see it presented in a way that really brought the history to life. The staff were all very warm and welcoming. I would DEFINITELY come back because there's just no way to read everything in an hour. I highly recommend.

The Mariposa Museum & History Center was founded in 1957 and filled with exhibits featuring Native…read moreAmericans, Spanish settlements, the Gold Rush, Yosemite, and Mariposa history. I admired the cool artifacts outside. Inside were stories and more artifacts from the old days. Great place to learn about Mariposa's past.

If you're interested in the history of mineral's & mining then this is the place!…read more Boasting California's official mineral collection containing over 13,000 objects from California and around the world. While taking a tour you will find many gems, mineral specimens, crystalline gold, mining artifacts and a mine tunnel you may walk through. This collection has been in Mariposa since 1983. Prior to that, San Francisco was its home for over 100 years. We spent most of the morning & afternoon exploring this spectacular place. Very informative about each specimen and the history surrounding it. The two rangers hosting this site are full of information and colorful stories. A must see! My only caveat is they don't allow anyone to take photographs inside for security reasons. I sure would have loved a close up picture or two... No worries, I still had fun. https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=588

Thought it was a ghost town at first because the lot was empty but a couple of cars pulled in so we…read moredecided to check it out! The kids loved it and were so excited that they incorporated Minecraft into it. They got their first junior ranger badges ever!

As members if the California State Railroad Museum, we have been here manny times…read more - 10:30 AM Train pulled by 1922 2-8-0 #28 Car #597 - celebration of the movie train's return - roundhouse tours are not to be missed

Of course we arrive a day late, when Summer schedule switches to Autumn and trains only run on…read moreweekends, so we used the VERY CLEAN restrooms at this park and poked around the small museum. From what we saw, there are picnic tables on a green lawn - RARE, in this area of golden hills and meadows, and PLENTY of free parking. Many films and TV shows have been shot here. It's located in historical Jamestown, CA and also less than 20mins from Columbia, CA, another great stop along the 49 in California Gold Country. I look forward to returning and riding the rails at this little gem. Cheers! "CC"

Having never tempted your family from this direction, I stopped at the visitor center in Mariposa…read more So glad I did, Jacob was full of information, knowledge, and tips for both things local and for Yosemite. Got a bunch of brochures which I always love, and save, and got to look at and purchase some cool merch. Bonus: there is an awesome looking escape room right there. Do not miss this stop!!!

READ FOR PRO TIPS!!!…read more DO THE SCAVENGER HUNT! It's super fun (did it with our 9 & 10 year olds). It is normally $15 but you get a $5 discount if you ask for one. PLUS you get a free coupon per participant for ice cream at Happy Burger Diner and the ice cream scoop is HUGE!!! And 10% off your entire meal if you get anything else :) STAFF IS FRIENDLY They will hook you up! :) Enjoy!

Been having mariposa court send me threating letters, threatening to steal my money. over a traffic…read moreincident that i was not involved in, i was not driving, it was not my vehicle, and i was not in mariposa. How this ended up being my problem is a mystery, either way. if i ever get a ticket in mariposa, i not only expect, but it will be mandatory for it to be somebody elses problem, rather then mine. since at this moment somebody elses problem is costing me $600. EAT SHIT MARIPOSA. Pathetic when the courts/and Police are acting like any other local Meth Heads.

Amazing history. This place is still a working courthouse which was a surprise. Unfortunately it's…read morejust open during working hours (weekdays) and closes early 3pm so coming in Friday around 4:30 pm we missed getting to go inside to see but was an impressive site during the first rain of the season on Saturday morning when we took these pics.

We've taken our dinosaur loving grandson there a couple of times and he is always delighted. They…read morecontinue to add sights and experiences as the exhibit grows and the excavation continues in the back 40. Go there and measure yourself next to the Wooly Mammoth and you'll be glad you didn't live when they roamed the Central Valley!

This is a really cool place to spend the day with kids. The staff was very kind and helpful. They…read moreplayed a short film for us that explained how the fossils were found in the area. There are many fossils and replica of fossils. You guide yourself on a tour, they give you a booklet to use to guide yourself. Each station has information on the fossils, history,etc. There is an outdoor area with replicas of the homes of the native Yokuts tribe that was originally in the area. There is also an outdoor pond with plaques in front of each different plant that surrounds the pond. It was a really cool learning experience. You can pay a bit extra for fossil digging. There are 19 fossils to dig up, that can take about an hour. We spent about 3 hours there. They also have a cool little gifts shop area.

Fresno Flats is a must‑see stop in Oakhurst for anyone wanting to understand the roots of the…read morecommunity. Donations are welcomed and help the dedicated docents continue sharing their knowledge and personal stories. We found it fascinating to learn how a logging community grew, lived, and thrived here for generations -- and how Native Americans and Chinese residents played essential roles in shaping the area's development.

Fresno Flats, Oakhurst: 2025 Dec 20 (5 of 5) Community…read moreHoliday Fair & Market In the little town of Oakhurst, where people are few but hearts are big, I noticed the folks here try and support each other in the little things they do. Today, a community holiday fair was held at Fresno Flats. I joined the lucky folks and did a walk-about. Holiday music fills the air on this gorgeous morning, while animals made their debut. I made friends with a couple of goats - actually, it was mama and her kid. As her kid nuzzled up to visitors and chewed on some treats, mama stood guard. I even managed to pet the kid and persuade it to eat out of my hand. Present were two food trucks. Chef Yuji and his lovely wife, Veronique are known to everyone in this little town. Their food truck emblazoned with Matsumoto Samurai's Kitchen parked in its usual spot, offering several Japanese delights to choose from. Their sushi is always fresh and delicious. The chefs take pride in what they serve. Of course, I couldn't walk away without getting my favourite. Poki Bowl: fresh tuna and salmon over sushi rice and two sides. I stopped by a stall manned by Stacy (she gave me permission to take her photo and post it on social media). Stacy said she makes all the natural products herself: soaps, candles, lip gloss, etc. The items looked clean and well packaged. I think they're perfect as stocking stuffers, or just a sweet gift to someone special. It looks like everyone there was having a lovely time: children dressed up and playing in the park, while adults chatted under the tent. There were folks in period costumes handing out candy canes, even Santa was on hand to 'ho-ho-ho' his way. Overall, this is a lovely place to spend a few hours.

Such a beautiful museum so friendly so much to see. Wed-sat summer time takes cash or card. Winter…read morehours change - think they close on wednesdays in winter. Very beautiful gift shop as well. The bison when you walk in takes your breath away. $9 to enter

Beautiful collections and archive of Mono history and future, really enjoyed the video and book…read moreselection as well!

On our last full day at Yosemite last week, we decided to venture out and do some sightseeing. We…read moretook a bus ride to Yosemite Village and loved checking out the Yosemite Museum. It's free and just a quick adventure. I loved seeing all of the Native American artifacts from headdresses to bows and arrows to woven bowls to even dancing capes. They also had a section where you could also touch items and there was even an employee demonstrating how to extract seeds from pinecones that my daughter got to participate in. They also have a trail out back that takes you to an area where there are teepees. Staff were friendly and we also checked out their gift shop where my friend bought us matching bracelets. The gift shop also sold arrowheads, handmade earrings, and soaps. We will definitely be back next time we are in Yosemite! Check them out!

I was happy to see a museum in the middle of the Yosemite Park. It is a very small museum, but it's…read morenice to go in and look at all the artifacts and pictures. Everything had great descriptions nearby. There was a woman at the front door who let us taste some berries and she also a lot of information about where they come from and what they do with the branches. We also bought a couple of jewelry pieces from her. She was very pleasant and she also welcomed us back and told us about the ceremonies that take place in August. She encouraged us to visit the Indian village behind the museum. There was also another man that was in the museum and talking to the patrons. He was sharing about his native culture and answering questions. Everything was lovely inside. If you come to Yosemite, make sure to stop on by the museum.