As the years pass by, churches from the Gold Rush era are becoming harder to find. Many of the Gold Rush towns have faded into history with very few remnants, if any, to show of their existence. Yuba County’s Smartsville was… Read More
Churches
St. Francis of the Mountains: Fallen Leaf Lake’s historical church
St. Francis of the Mountains, also known as Fallen Leaf Lake church or chapel, is a quaint church steeped in history and rustic charm. Located near the southeast portion of Fallen Leaf Lake, St. Francis of the Mountains is a ‘one… Read More
St. Peter’s Chapel: the oldest Naval chapel in the United States
St. Peter’s Chapel, located on Mare Island, is an exquisite little chapel built in 1901. It’s Victorian Gothic design hides the chapel’s true beauty, which is on the inside. In the mid-to-late 20th century, it was discovered that this chapel was… Read More
Castles on the Hill: the San Francisco Theological Seminary’s Montgomery and Scott Halls
On a knoll overlooking the town of San Anselmo, are two fairytale like castles positioned in the shadows of Mt. Tamalpais. These structures, which at one time flirted with a destructive fate, are the source of community pride and affectionately known… Read More
The tale of St. Joseph’s Church Bell
The parish decided to raise $3500 for a church bell to be added to St. Joseph. The bell was cast in Sheffield and then delivered to Boston. It would then be shipped around the Horn to San Francisco. By boat, the… Read More