Tuolumne County Museum
Located in the Jail
The Tuolumne County Historical society operates one of the best museums in the southern Mother Lode region. Located in the old Tuolumne County Jail, the museum’s exhibits are spread throughout the thickly-walled brick cells and the former living quarters of the jailer’s family. Constructed in 1857 and rebuilt in 1866 after a prisoner set it on fire, the jail was used continuously until 1961.
Visitors today not only get a great museum experience, but also get to tour a historic jail. If you visit on a cold day, note that the glass in the windows of the cells is not original – when prisoners were housed in the building they had to live with the outside conditions – a far cry from incarcerations today!
Old Jail Cell Window
Excellent collection of history
The museum’s excellent collection of old photos and artifacts brings the past to life – mining, logging, railroads, ranching, and rural life. The exhibits are interpreted by clearly-written signs. Located in Sonora, the county seat of Tuolumne County, the museum displays not only Sonora’s history, but also that of other communities from the Tuolumne foothills to the top of the Sierra Nevada.
A detailed map located near the museum’s entrance identifies all of the current and former settlements in Tuolumne County.
Museum Exhibits
Historic guns
The historic gun collection is one of the best I’ve seen. Part of the display is a selection of ammunition in just about every caliber and gauge. If you’ve ever wondered how all the sizes compare, this is the place to find out.
For those interested in the history of the High Sierra, an exhibit focuses on the history of nearby Sonora Pass (today’s Highway 108) and the pioneers who developed it as a trans-Sierra crossing.
The museum is located at 158 West Bradford Avenue, two blocks from the city center. Directional signs on Highway 49 make it easy to find.
The hours are 10-4 Monday through Friday and 10-3:30 on Saturdays. Helpful volunteers are available to answer questions and show visitors around.
Museum Exterior 1
Enjoyable reading
The TCHS has published a number of excellent books of local history. On my recent visit I picked up copies of Sonora Pass Pioneers and When Steam Was King, both of which increased my knowledge about the development of Sonora Pass and railroads in the Sierra foothills. They’ve also given me many hours of enjoyable reading. Special events including frequent presentations by local historians and an annual Lamplight Dinner fundraiser are also offered.
In addition to the exhibits, an extensive research library is available for family historians and anyone interested in digging more deeply into the county’s history. The research library is open on Tuesdays from 9AM to noon. A donation is requested to help cover the cost of maintaining the collection and the facility.
Just over an hour’s drive from most locations in Merced County, the museum is an easy day trip and can be combined with a visit to Sonora’s downtown, the Moccasin Hatchery, Jamestown, Columbia State Historic Park, Railtown 1897 State Historic Park, or any of the caverns in nearby Calaveras County.
For more information about the museum or the research library,
please to: http://tchistory.org/index.html or call (209) 532-1317.
Moccasin Trout Hatchery
Photo by adam blauert
Fish and Game
In order to provide fishing opportunities for 38 million people, the California Department of Fish and Game grows trout and salmon in 21 hatcheries throughout the state and then stocks them in lakes and rivers to supplement the natural populations. Much of this is done by truck, however in roadless areas airplanes are used.
Large Trout - PHOTO BY ADAM BLAUERT
Moccasin hatchery
The closest trout hatchery to Merced County is located at Moccasin, along the northern route to Yosemite. For a map showing all of the DFG hatcheries in California, go to http://www.dfg.ca.gov/fish/Hatcheries/Moccasin/
Trout Swarming - PHOTO BY ADAM BLAUERT
Hours of operation
From 7:30AM to 3:30PM daily, visitors can observe and feed the rainbow trout at the Moccasin hatchery. The fish live and grow in long rectangular pools, protected from predators by a tall chain-link fence and overhead wires.
The largest fish – some of them very large – are located in a pool near the front of the hatchery. A sign indicates “show fish.”
Trout Jumping - PHOTO BY ADAM BLAUERT
Bring quarters to feed the fish
Fish food is sold from a dispenser in the parking area. Bring quarters - $5 provided nearly an hour of fun the last time I visited. If you bring several children, more quarters may be necessary.
Tossing the food into the water creates a feeding frenzy. It is thrilling to watch swarms of beautiful fish jumping out of the water and moving great distances in the blink of an eye.
Large Trout - PHOTO BY ADAM BLAUERT
It’s great fun for all ages, especially for kids. The fish are conditioned to expect food from large vertical objects and a feeding frenzy may start when your shadow crosses the water, even if you don’t throw any food in.
In the winter months the surrounding mountains block the sun by 2PM. If you want to enjoy its warmth, arrive by noon.
Planning your visit
During the summer heat an early visit is recommended. Trying to catch jumping fish with your camera can be a lot of fun if you are a photographer. A polarizing filter is helpful to cut through the glare on the water.
The hatchery is located near the junction of Highways 120 and 49. If you come from the south via Highway 49, watch for a sign indicating a right hand turn for the hatchery just before you reach the Highway 120 junction. If you come from the west on 120, turn right on 49 and look for a signed left hand turn.
About 70 minutes from Merced, the hatchery is close to the historic towns of Coulterville, Chinese Camp, Big Oak Flat, and Groveland. It is also relatively close to Sonora, Jamestown, Columbia State Historic Park, and Railtown 1897 State Historic Park.
The BLM’s Red Hills Area is a great spot for a picnic or a hike in the fall, winter, or spring.
Red Hills is known for having an excellent wildflower display in March and April. If you are headed to or from Yosemite on Highway 120, the hatchery makes a convenient stop.
Hatchery - PHOTO BY ADAM BLAUERT
Hetch Hetchy
The buildings surrounding the hatchery pools are where fish are bred and hatched. The larger buildings and the pond beyond the hatchery complex are part of the Hetch Hetchy power generation system.
Water is diverted from the Tuolumne River through the large pipes that descend the mountains to the east of the hatchery (penstocks).
The great force of the descending water is turned into electrical power. In addition to providing electrical power, the Hetch Hetchy system supplies San Francisco with drinking water.
The diversion begins at the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir inside Yosemite National Park.
Medium Trout Underwater - PHOTO BY ADAM BLAUERT
Signs are posted warning hatchery visitors to stay off the concrete edges of the pools. Don’t feed the fish anything other than the food sold at the hatchery and don’t try to touch the fish.
To plan a school or group visit, contact the hatchery at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/fish/Hatcheries/Moccasin/
Adam Blauert, a high school teacher and avid outdoors enthusiast, has dedicated the majority of his life to Merced County. His passions include fishing, backpacking, delving into local history, and exploring the wonders of the western states.