Textiles Exhibit

A fully-operational turn-of-the-20^th-Century loom, along with other support equipment is planned for exhibition by March of 2012. Trained museum docents will demonstrate loom techniques and discuss the role of women in Angels Camp during the mining periods.  These demonstrations will take place at scheduled times throughout the year.

Carpentry Shop

A fully functional late 19^th Century Carpenters Shop is planned for the Mining and Ranching building.  It is hoped that the exhibit will be ready for unveiling in March of 2012. The exhibit will be operated by experienced wood-workers and museum docents at scheduled times throughout the year.  They will demonstrate the various skills needed to be a carpenter in late 19^th Century America.

Blacksmith Shop

Plans are in the works to build a fully functional late 19^th Century Blacksmith shop located adjacent to the Mining and Ranching Building. The Museum is actively looking to raise approximately $6500 to build the structure, including the working forge. The Museum already has all of the necessary supporting blacksmithing equipment. It is hoped that the funds can be raised and the structure built in time for March 2012 . The Blacksmith shop will be operated by experienced blacksmiths and museum docents, on a regularly scheduled basis, to demonstrate 19^th century blacksmithing skills that were necessary to support the miners of the Gold Country region.

If you are interested in making a donation towards the Blacksmith shop exhibit, please contact Museum Director Craig Hadley on his cell phone at (760) 397-7219.

Print Shop

The museum is planning on unveiling a new exhibit that will be a fully operational early 20^th Century print shop in March of 2012. This exhibit, located in the Mining and Ranching Building, will be a recreation of an early print shop complete with two or more working presses, type cabinets, cases and support equipment.  The exhibit will have both descriptive text panels discussing the history of newspapers in Angels Camp and Calaveras County as well as the history of printing in general. The equipment will be operated by experienced printers and trained staff for the visiting public at various scheduled times throughout the year.

Hogarth Stamp Mill

On Saturday July 30, 20011 after more than two years of effort, the Angels Camp Museum dedicated its new historic five-stamp mill as part of its mining exhibit. The huge mill likely dates back to the late 19th century, but was first recorded in 1920 when it was purchased by Harry Hogarth as part of the Relief Quartz Mine. It was moved later in the 20th century and then purchased by the city before eventually ending up at the Angels Camp Museum.

The Native Sons of the Golden West were on hand for the ceremony, including Grand President, David Allen, and Director of Historical Research, Barney Noel. Museum Commission Chair Bob Petithomme was charged with the ribbon cutting. A single operational stamp mill was on display next to the five-stamp mill, and the original five horse power engine that powered the larger mill was loaned for the day by the Ghiglieri Ranch. The single stamp mill was turned on to signal the ribbon cutting and lend its loud rhythmic thumping sound to the festivities. More than 60 people, including surviving relatives of Harry Hogarth, were on hand for the unveiling. Family member, Richard Serra of Vallecito, donated the monument for the plaque. Refreshments were provided by the Museum Foundation.

Newspaper article links to the event can be found here:

The Union-Democrat

http://www.uniondemocrat.com/20110801104311/News/Local-News/Historic-Hogarth-Stamp-Mill-display-unveiled

Record.net

http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110731/A_NEWS/107310325/-1/A_COMM02

Gold Panning Exhibit

This interactive exhibit allows both children and adults to experience the gold panning techniques used by the prospectors of the 1840s and 1850s. Participants will learn about the challenges of the Gold Rush era from a museum docent as well.

This activity is an additional charge of $5.00 per person (for both children and adults).

The Mark Twain Exhibit

This exhibit opened on May 1, 2010 at the Angels Camp Museum. The exhibit chronicles the early life of Samuel Clemens as he transformed himself into the legendary writer and humorist Mark Twain.  The exhibit attempts to shines a light on how Twain used the story he heard while in Angels Camp in 1865 about an amazing jumping frog and translated it into his famous short story “The Amazing Jumping Frog of Calaveras County.” This story launched his career as a nationally known humorist and writer that eventually made him America’s most famous novelist and humorist of the late Nineteenth and early 20th Centuries.

A special exhibit created in recognition of this world famous author whose stories have given Angels Camp a unique and lasting identity. This exhibit has been developed in cooperation with the distinguished Mark Twain Boyhood Museum, Hannibal Missouri, the U.C. Berkeley Bancroft Library, and leading Mark Twain scholar, Dr. Gregg Camfield at U.C. Merced.