in Historic Weaverville and Trinity County
Legend
has it that Weaverville was part of the inspiration for James Hilton's
Lost Horizon, Weaverville being the example of the mythical
Shangri-La. On
the
National
Register of
Historic
Places, Weaverville's Historic District has also recently been
designated a Preserve
America Community. Unlike a number of other historic town's, Weaverville's Historic District continues to thrive with business activity including coffeehouses, gift shops, clothing stores, antique stores and one of the oldest active County Court Houses in California.
The Weaverville Joss House,
a California Historic State Park, is still an active place of
worship and is also available for visitor tours. The Trinity County Historical Society has been an active part of the continuing education of visitors and locals regarding the history of Weaverville.
The Trinity County Museum and
their volunteer staff are also a wonderful resource for information,
background and local legends.
Like many California communities, Weaverville and Trinity County have
an active chapter of E. Clampus Vitus,
the Clampers, is a fraternal
organization dedicated to the study and preservation of Western
Heritage, especially the history of gold
mining
regions.
Fun Historic
Facts:
Gold
Is Where You Find It
starring Olivia De Havilland was filmed in and just outside of Weaverville.
Black Bart robbed a bank in Weaverville.
The Chinese Tong War took place in Weaverville.
Weaverville was part of the inspiration for James Hilton's Lost Horizon.
Famous concert promoter Bill Graham of Bill Graham Presents worked on the Trinity Dam
project in the late 1950's.
Wikipedia also has a good description of Weaverville and its history.
From The
National RegisterWeaverville. WEAVERVILLE HISTORIC DISTRICT,
Both sides of Main St., Mid-late-19th C.
Small town district of about 25 commercial, residential, public, and religious buildings, many of brick, others frame, and several of tamped earth construction. Buildings along Main Street are 1-2 stories, often with false fronts or parapeted roofs, and many with verandas;
several feature spiral iron stairs to 2nd-floor veranda; bandstand and 1874 Joss House, still used as place of worship, included.
Goldmining town settled after 1849; late-19th C. population of nearly 2,000 included a sizable Chinese community, 1854 Tong War, in which several hundred Chinese participated, took place near town.