COARSEGOLD—The Coarsegold Historic Museum is truly a local historic treasure. Treasures don’t support themselves, however, so each spring for the last nearly two decades the site has held “Music in the Meadow.” The festive Music in the Meadow annual event serves as a great way to spend a spring afternoon dancing and connecting with neighbors, friends, and new friends from Coarsegold and beyond.
Brief History of the Museum
The site of the event is the museum itself, located at 31899 Highway 41 (just south of Lucky Lane) in Coarsegold. The original stagecoach road to Yosemite ran right through Museum grounds. The adobe building situated there is a designated historical landmark which served as a way station for those heading up the mountain.
The unique collection of artifacts and items of historical value focuses on Coarsegold and nearby foothill areas, where its exhibits offer a look back into the past from prehistoric to recent times in the area. The museum celebrates not only its pioneer ancestors but also the Chukchansi peoples who have populated the area for centuries.
The Coarsegold Historical Society, an educational non-profit entity, owns and operates Coarsegold Historic Museum. The Coarsegold Historical Society was formed in 1981 to study and share the wonderful history of Eastern Madera County and the area known as Coarsegold in particular. From research the book As We Were Told was produced. Members interviewed 102 “old time” families (dating to the early 1800s) of the region and complied their stories to share with others. Various books about the area and its legends are available for purchase.
Picayune School Moved to Property
In 1994 the Picayune School (in use from 1913 to 1956) moved to the property. It was an elementary school especially for the local Chukchansi Yokut Indians. The only one-room schoolhouse in the local mountain area to be displayed as a school, it is furnished with items dating to the period of its original use. Now restored and listed on the California Register of Historic Sites, the Madera County Board of Supervisors designated it a local Historical Landmark. Event Details
This popular Open House features live music, a silent auction, 50/50 drawing, food, and drinks.
- Date: Saturday, June 1, 2024
- Hours: 12 noon to 4 pm
- Live music by the Executive Rockers (back by popular demand)
- Food and beverages available for purchase
- Silent auction, 50/50 drawing
- Museum buildings open for viewing
- Fun, family-friendly event under the shade of a large canopy
- Admission Fee: $10.00
Event Sponsors
The annual event counts among its sponsors local businesses Kenli, Inc., Sullivan’s Tire Pros, Veater Financial Group and Yosemite Drug.
Contact for More Information
For further information, call the museum at (559) 642-4448 or visit their website. You can also email them at chs@sti.net.
Photos courtesy of Coarsegold Historic Museum and Visit Yosemite|Madera County.
