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.

COST: $10 per person (Museum Members admitted FREE). Tickets may be purchased by calling the Museum during regular business hours at (209) 736-2963 or in person.

JANUARY 5:

The 100^th Anniversary of the Incorporation of Angels Camp

Location: St Patrick’s Catholic Church Meeting Hall – 820 S Main St, Angels Camp (Directly adjacent to the museum)

FEBRUARY 2:

The Civil War’s Impact on Calaveras County & History According to Hollywood

Location: St Patrick’s Catholic Church Meeting Hall – 820 S Main St, Angels Camp (Directly adjacent to the museum)

MARCH 1:

The History of the Sam Choy building and Chinese Immigrants to Calaveras County

Location: The Sam Choy Building – 1329 Birds Way in historic downtown Angels Camp

APRIL 5:

Memories of Angels Camp: A symposium

Location: The Angels Camp Museum Carriage House – 753 S. Main Street, Angels Camp

MAY 3:

The Jumping Frog Competition in Angels Camp:  It’s History, Memorabilia, and Stories

Location: The Angels Camp Museum Carriage House – 753 S. Main Street, Angels Camp

JUNE 7:

The Gold Rush in Angels Camp

Location: The Angels Camp Museum Carriage House – 753 S. Main Street, Angels Camp

JULY 5:

A History of American Patriotic Holiday’s

Location: The Angels Camp Museum Carriage House – 753 S. Main Street, Angels Camp

AUGUST 2:

The History of the Altaville Schoolhouse

Location: The Altaville Schoolhouse – 125 North Main Street, Angels Camp, CA

SEPTEMBER 6:

The History of Winemaking in Calaveras County

Location: The Angels Camp Museum Carriage House – 753 S. Main Street, Angels Camp

OCTOBER 4:

Cemetery Lantern Tour in Angels Camp

Location: To be announced

NOVEMBER 1:

The Geology of Angels Camp and Surrounding Area

Location: The Angels Camp Museum Carriage House – 753 S. Main Street, Angels Camp

DECEMBER 6:

Special readings from Charles Dickens “A Christmas Carol.”

Location: The Angels Camp Museum Carriage House – 753 S. Main Street, Angels Camp

Refreshments Available Beginning at 6:30 PM

Watch Living Historians Re-Create Life During the Gold Rush

This 2011 Gold Rush Day was a great success! Hundreds of visitors enjoyed the various programs and activities. Next Year’s event will be held on Saturday, June 9^th, 2012. Here are a few links to newspaper articles on the 2011 event:

http://www.calaverasenterprise.com/articles/2011/05/10/top_story/top_gold.txt

http://thepinetree.net/index.php?module=announce&ANN_user_op=view&ANN_id=24655

Here are a few photos from the event:

New Director, Craig Hadley

Craig Hadley is a South Carolina native and a graduate of the University of South Carolina, but has lived all over the United States as well as overseas. He has been a successful museum professional and public historian for more than 20 years.

In the museum field he has worked in all areas, from designing exhibits that include the nationally recognized interactive children’s museum The Creative Discovery Museum in Chattanooga, Tennessee to designing and project managing the building of an entire museum from the ground up with the Tennessee Civil War Museum. He has owned his own museum consulting company in the past, which has consulted on various museum exhibits, collections, and documentary films that include The Upcountry History Museum in Greenville, South Carolina, Patriot’s Point Maritime Museum and The National Congressional Medal of Honor Museum in Charleston, S.C. He has created a number of award-winning museum educational programs for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students while working for the National Trust for Historic Preservation as a Director of Education & Research.

Craig has also worked as a consultant for the History Channel, as an independent producer of historic content for American Online, Inc., a documentary film maker, and motion picture historical consultant, as well as an assistant professor of history where he specialized in teaching military history from the American Revolution through World War II, African-American slave history, as well as film history and archaeology.

Over the years, Craig has worked with the United States military as a consultant and instructor for officer-in-training educational staff rides teaching the history and military tactics of the American Revolution and the Civil War to officers from Fort Benning, Ga., Chief of the Army Signal Corps staff, the Provost Marshal Officers Training School, the Chaplain’s School at Fort Jackson, SC and visiting NATO officers. Finally, before moving to California, Craig was a commissioned officer and the chief military historian for the South Carolina State Guard.

Among his many awards over the years, Craig was awarded the 2009 Palmetto Trust for Historic Preservation Honor Award for his work designing and project managing the Magnolia Plantation African-American Slave Cabin Project known as “From Slavery to Freedom.” This large and innovative three-year museum project that included restoring four antebellum slave cabins back to various time periods of occupation, culminated with its grand opening on March 1, 2009. The public educational program he created for this finished project was recently awarded the 2010 Palmetto Trust for Historic Preservation Heritage Tourism Award.

Craig moved to the Coachella Valley in Southern California in January of 2010 to be with his fiancée, Jesse Siess, who is also a museum professional and at the time was the Executive Director of the Coachella Valley History Museum. A few months later, Craig accepted the position of Executive Director of the General Patton Memorial Museum. Craig and Jesse were married in October of 2010, and in December, she accepted the job as the new Executive Director of the Tahoe Maritime Museum, prompting their move to Northern California. Craig is excited about his new role as Director of the Angels Camp Museum and looks forward to working with the volunteers and staff of the museum as it continues to move forwar

Mark Twain 1880 Letter

A letter written by Mark Twain to a young lady in Angels Camp.

Stamp Mill Dedication

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

Hogarth Stamp Mill Plaque

Children learning to pan for gold.

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).

Fun at the Gold Panning Exhibit