Media
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Angels Camp Museum Foundation Kicks off $25K Campaign to Expand the Pole Barn Exhibit Space
Visitors will find it easier to navigate among exhibits, increase access for all, and improve the presentation across all exhibits
Angels Camp, CA – July 6, 2021 – The Angels Camp Museum Foundation is kicking off a new fundraising campaign to raise $25,000 for re-imagining the Angels Camp Museum’s Mining & Ranching Building exhibits.
Throughout the Mother Lode, starting in the late 1850s, many former miners began farming and ranching after most surface Placer gold deposits were exhausted. This economic shift foretold the future when mining eventually led to agriculture and cattle ranching in the foothills.
“Churchill once said, ‘The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you can see,’ said Martin Huberty, Angels Camp Museum Executive Director. “Our precious Gold Rush history reflects who we are and should be celebrated and showcased. That’s what this project is about – showcasing our many mining and ranching artifacts in the most engaging way possible,” he continued.
The Mining & Ranching Building, also known as the Pole Barn because of the construction style, houses an extensive collection of Gold Rush-era gold mining, ranching, and farming equipment, each with a story to tell. Among the many mining-related Items found in the pole barn are a Rocker box (also known as a cradle), a gold mining implement for separating alluvial placer gold from sand and gravel, and an automated stamp mill model showing how gold was extracted from hard rock.
The Pole Barn is also home to many sizeable early farming and ranching technologies like the horse-drawn Self Raking Reaper and the Little Giant Thresher used to separate the grain from the straw. Organizing these more meaningfully to demonstrate better how they worked is a vital goal of the fundraising effort. Overall, funds raised will be used to:
The Angels Camp Museum has always had a strong bond with the community. That tie goes back to its beginning in 1950 and continues today.
Almost 60 years later, the Angels Camp Museum Foundation was established as a 501(c)3 Non-profit, tax-exempt organization to facilitate fundraising, volunteer recruitment, and program development.
“For thirteen years, the Foundation has supported the museum through specific projects and various campaigns,” said Karen Strand, Museum Foundation President. “The COVID-19 pandemic posed some real challenges for our museum, resulting in the co-location with the Visitor’s Bureau. It also helped strengthen and focus our commitment as the Museum Foundation to increasing our ability to preserve our important Gold Rush history and artifacts – including those that the Museum received from the now-closed Old Timer’s Museum in Murphy’s. We couldn’t be more excited about our new website and fundraising program; the entire board is honored to be part of this team effort.”
Individuals and companies wishing to support this fundraising campaign can visit the new Foundation website and make a donation on our campaign site.
About the Angels Camp Museum Foundation
The Angels Camp Museum Foundation supports the development and expansion of the collections, programs, and resources of the Angels Camp Museum in Angels Camp, Calaveras County, California, and to establish it as one of the premier local history and educational museums in Northern California.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Angels Camp Museum Foundation Kicks off $25K Campaign to Expand the Pole Barn Exhibit Space
Visitors will find it easier to navigate among exhibits, increase access for all, and improve the presentation across all exhibits
Angels Camp, CA – July 6, 2021 – The Angels Camp Museum Foundation is kicking off a new fundraising campaign to raise $25,000 for re-imagining the Angels Camp Museum’s Mining & Ranching Building exhibits.
Throughout the Mother Lode, starting in the late 1850s, many former miners began farming and ranching after most surface Placer gold deposits were exhausted. This economic shift foretold the future when mining eventually led to agriculture and cattle ranching in the foothills.
“Churchill once said, ‘The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you can see,’ said Martin Huberty, Angels Camp Museum Executive Director. “Our precious Gold Rush history reflects who we are and should be celebrated and showcased. That’s what this project is about – showcasing our many mining and ranching artifacts in the most engaging way possible,” he continued.
The Mining & Ranching Building, also known as the Pole Barn because of the construction style, houses an extensive collection of Gold Rush-era gold mining, ranching, and farming equipment, each with a story to tell. Among the many mining-related Items found in the pole barn are a Rocker box (also known as a cradle), a gold mining implement for separating alluvial placer gold from sand and gravel, and an automated stamp mill model showing how gold was extracted from hard rock.
The Pole Barn is also home to many sizeable early farming and ranching technologies like the horse-drawn Self Raking Reaper and the Little Giant Thresher used to separate the grain from the straw. Organizing these more meaningfully to demonstrate better how they worked is a vital goal of the fundraising effort. Overall, funds raised will be used to:
- Increase access and safe navigation of the large exhibit space, bringing it into ADA compliance;
- Add a Blacksmith Shop and a General Store exhibit to the three existing Carpentry, Printing & Weaving artisan exhibits;
- Complete the extensive rework of the museum’s remarkable gem and mineral exhibit; and
- Enable the Museum to showcase the extensive collection of Farming, Mining, and Ranching technologies pioneered during the Gold Rush.
The Angels Camp Museum has always had a strong bond with the community. That tie goes back to its beginning in 1950 and continues today.
Almost 60 years later, the Angels Camp Museum Foundation was established as a 501(c)3 Non-profit, tax-exempt organization to facilitate fundraising, volunteer recruitment, and program development.
“For thirteen years, the Foundation has supported the museum through specific projects and various campaigns,” said Karen Strand, Museum Foundation President. “The COVID-19 pandemic posed some real challenges for our museum, resulting in the co-location with the Visitor’s Bureau. It also helped strengthen and focus our commitment as the Museum Foundation to increasing our ability to preserve our important Gold Rush history and artifacts – including those that the Museum received from the now-closed Old Timer’s Museum in Murphy’s. We couldn’t be more excited about our new website and fundraising program; the entire board is honored to be part of this team effort.”
Individuals and companies wishing to support this fundraising campaign can visit the new Foundation website and make a donation on our campaign site.
About the Angels Camp Museum Foundation
The Angels Camp Museum Foundation supports the development and expansion of the collections, programs, and resources of the Angels Camp Museum in Angels Camp, Calaveras County, California, and to establish it as one of the premier local history and educational museums in Northern California.
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Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Rare Opportunity to Tour the Historic Utica Mansion
Docents throughout the home will share the history of the times and the mines
Angels Camp, CA – May 21, 2018 – The Angels Camp Museum Foundation will host a special dinner on September 8, 2018, to benefit the Angels Camp Museum Foundation Lecture Series. Thanks to the current owner and resident, Tad Folendorf, the Utica Mansion will again be open to the public for tours, complete with a history of the home followed by a delicious dinner catered by Pickle Patch on the grounds.
“For many years, the mansion was a focal point for major social events of the Angels Camp community, “said Karen Strand, Angels Camp Museum Foundation President. “With the exception of minor alterations to the lower floor in the 1950's, the house today is as it was in the 1890's.”
The mansion began as a modest 2-story stone Federal house built by Utica Mine owner Robert Leeper in 1882. Leeper sold the mine and his home to Charles D. Lane. Early in the 1890’s, Lane undertook an elaborate remodel that doubled the home’s size and transformed it into the mansion as it exists today.
“A lot of people don’t know that the house was also used as an office,” said Tad Folendorf, current Utica Mansion owner. “At one time the street in front of the houses adjacent to Utica park were offices of the various mines. In fact, the street adjacent to Utica Park was originally called ‘Office Street’ until it was changed to Utica Park Lane in the 1980’s.”
Utica Mansion Event Tickets are $40 each for Museum members, $50 for non-members. For tickets, contact Foundation President Karen Strand at (209) 795-1408 or [email protected].
About the Angels Camp Museum Foundation
The Angels Camp Museum Foundation supports the development and expansion of the collections, programs, and resources of the Angels Camp Museum in Angels Camp, Calaveras County, California, and to establish it as one of the premier local history and educational museums in Northern California.
# # #
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Rare Opportunity to Tour the Historic Utica Mansion
Docents throughout the home will share the history of the times and the mines
Angels Camp, CA – May 21, 2018 – The Angels Camp Museum Foundation will host a special dinner on September 8, 2018, to benefit the Angels Camp Museum Foundation Lecture Series. Thanks to the current owner and resident, Tad Folendorf, the Utica Mansion will again be open to the public for tours, complete with a history of the home followed by a delicious dinner catered by Pickle Patch on the grounds.
“For many years, the mansion was a focal point for major social events of the Angels Camp community, “said Karen Strand, Angels Camp Museum Foundation President. “With the exception of minor alterations to the lower floor in the 1950's, the house today is as it was in the 1890's.”
The mansion began as a modest 2-story stone Federal house built by Utica Mine owner Robert Leeper in 1882. Leeper sold the mine and his home to Charles D. Lane. Early in the 1890’s, Lane undertook an elaborate remodel that doubled the home’s size and transformed it into the mansion as it exists today.
“A lot of people don’t know that the house was also used as an office,” said Tad Folendorf, current Utica Mansion owner. “At one time the street in front of the houses adjacent to Utica park were offices of the various mines. In fact, the street adjacent to Utica Park was originally called ‘Office Street’ until it was changed to Utica Park Lane in the 1980’s.”
Utica Mansion Event Tickets are $40 each for Museum members, $50 for non-members. For tickets, contact Foundation President Karen Strand at (209) 795-1408 or [email protected].
About the Angels Camp Museum Foundation
The Angels Camp Museum Foundation supports the development and expansion of the collections, programs, and resources of the Angels Camp Museum in Angels Camp, Calaveras County, California, and to establish it as one of the premier local history and educational museums in Northern California.
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