If you’ve lived in Nevada County long enough, you’ve probably heard the phrase, “You’ve gotta get down to Washington.”
Tucked deep into the rugged canyon of the South Yuba River, Washington, lovingly known as “Littletown”, is a treasure. Here, history isn’t locked in a museum. You walk right into it. You will hear the echoes of the Gold Rush in the Yuba River and stories of the people who call this canyon home. Most likely, you’ll run into old-timers, off-grid independent spirits, bikers, gold panners, and outdoor adventurers. Whether you are looking to plunge into the water, camp under the stars, or cast a line, it is the ultimate summer escape.
Today, you can supercharge your next adventure and experience the “Little Town of Washington” like never before. By downloading a free, self-guided audio walking tour straight to your smartphone, you’ll unlock a journey into the town’s vibrant, wild past.
Washington on the Yuba produced by Lisa Redfern and Rose Murphy, in conjunction with the Nevada County Historical Society, holds stories shared by many local contributors, this immersive experience is available free on the IZI.travel app.
The adventure begins the moment you hit Washington Road and start your descent into the canyon. The tour guides you from the scenic drive to a parking spot, inviting you to wander the historic streets at your own pace. Podcast narratives at each stop are told in small bites of four minutes or less. You’ll hear firsthand accounts and local lore right where history happened. (And if you can’t wait, you can easily preview the archival images and audio stories from the comfort of your couch!)
What You Will Learn?
The tour takes you deep into the heart of a historic California mining district. Through archival records and personal stories from locals, you will discover firsthand perspectives from folks like long-time resident and Fire Chief, Mike Stewart, as he details the unique geological formations and historic mining techniques that shaped the canyon. You will discover stories of historic floods, fires, stagecoach robberies, and snowstorms that routinely cut the town off from Nevada City, all documented through newspaper articles from the Nevada County Historical Society archives.
You will alsodiscover the vital role of the Chinese miners, merchants, and laborers who built businesses and drove the local economy during the Gold Rush. Visit the China Alley landmark monument to uncover the history of those who built the Sierra Nevada mining region, even though little of the original physical structures or stories remain.
Listen to Adam Pearcy, the last teacher at the one-room schoolhouse. He shares what it was like instructing TK through 8th-grade students before the schoolhouse closed its doors in 2022, after 116 years of operation. You can trace the steps of generations of local children who walked from mining camps scattered throughout the mountain to attend class, including the world-famous 19th-century opera singer, Emma Nevada.
You’ll learn about the spirit of the Washington Hotel, originally built in the 1850s. The hotel has survived multiple fires, as told by its owner since 2017, Charity Jackson. Discover why this part-saloon, part-social-hub, and part-museum is the absolute best place to soak in Washington’s unique personality and slow pace of life.
Produced in conjunction with the Nevada County Historical Society, this walking tour serves as a model for community-driven preservation. By relying heavily on firsthand accounts from local figures, including the Fire Chief, the last local schoolteacher, and a historic saloon owner, the tour keeps Washington’s unique personality and resilient spirit alive.
While IZI.travel may ask for a quick email sign-in or a short video ad, don’t let that stop you. Your journey into Washington’s past is just seconds away!