HORNITOS – At once exciting and nearly ethereal, a candle-lighting and procession in the old Mexican town of Hornitos winds its way from plaza to cemetery each year on November 2, to celebrate All Souls Day, and Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. Hornitos in Spanish means “little ovens,” as the town in Mariposa County is said ...

MARIPOSA — This is the fourth year for the Mariposa Go West Festival in the historically charming California gold rush town named with the Spanish word for “butterfly.” This family-friendly event features gold panning, roping contests, gunfight reenactments, live music, traditional native dancing, and much more. “Go back to the days of the Old West and experience what it was like during ...

It’s not often that one of the History Mysteries gets solved so completely, but when it does happen we think it should be highlighted. Thanks to diligent research of North Fork History Group member Kathy Ellis, and preservation of historic information in the past by Margie (Jeppson) Hensley and Doris Scovel, every person in History Mystery #59 was identified. The ...

MARIPOSA — Have you ever told a child about something from the past and watched as their eyes lit up with wonder and excitement? It’s a feeling hard to describe, and one anyone can experience. The Mariposa Museum and History Center invites members of the community to become volunteer tour guides for their upcoming 5th grade field trips; no experience is ...

This month we are featuring not so much a Mystery as a celebration of the past from Christina McDonald. “As the Sierra Mono Museum embarks on a new phase in cultural preservation, let us remember the original ground breaking that took place in the 1970’s. Community members please identify the people in the groundbreaking photo. Let us see who you ...

This month’s mystery is one I am often asked about. When and where did President Teddy Roosevelt and John Muir first meet on their trip to Raymond and on to Yosemite? They traveled in May of 1903 so we celebrate the historic trip 115 years later. There are several theories, so it will be fun to see what folks come ...

The Mariposa Indian War, Campaign from 13 April to 2 May, 1851. The question is to more accurately locate where this particular skirmish took place. The map indicates that it took place along the banks of Fine Gold Creek, somewhere close to Fine Gold Gulch. The text of the report indicates that it was on the Little San Joaquin River. ...

MADERA — There is a treasure trove of images, magazines, films and even home movies from the Madera/Mariposa area available online for the public to access, thanks to the Madera County Library’s specialized History and Family Research room and their work to preserve historical records. There is film of the Hildreth Rodeo in the 1940s and the Madera County Old ...

MARIPOSA — The Mariposa Museum and History Center presents a Fireside Chat that will please historians and those who like to dig into the past. The talk is Fire and Ice: Historic and Archeological Research at Fish Camp/Summerdale in California, and takes place on Sunday, Feb. 18 at 2 p.m. Admission is free. The conversation will summarize the preliminary findings ...

This photo was part of a collection that we recently received at the Coarsegold Historical Society. It says Melvin Place on the back so we know it was taken in Coarsegold, but we need help in identifying the three cowboys in the photo. (click photo to enlarge) Any information would be appreciated. Please comment below or email us at coarsegoldhistoricalsociety.com ...