Volcano, California
Volcano is unique. A cone-shaped valley within a mile
to the north of Chaw Se Grinding Rock State Park and
Black Chasm, Volcano's history begins with its valley
floor, once home to the Miwok people, whose grinding
rocks are scattered everywhere.
Picture this valley filled with oaks, verdant because of the many waters draining into its Sutter Creek nearby, and the trails which were followed by people and animals alike. The early immigrants and their covered wagons came over the Sierra and used the meadows of Volcano to rest, repair equipment and prepare to push westward for the final stages of their journeys. Then, gold was discovered here. Extremely effective high-pressure water systems literally removed the top soil, leaving the valley floor denuded. The timing of the Gold Rush coincided with the Civil War, and since the state of California was precariously divided almost equally between pro and anti Union forces, protecting the outgoing gold shipments to the Union side required the presence of a cannon, which fortunately, never needed to be put into action. The cannon can still be seen today in Volcano. The famous "Cannonball Run" car show takes place every year here.
Many of the miners were sophisticated professionals who
came to California to seek a new life. Touring the
gold camps was the ardent Unitarian minister, Thomas
Starr King, who presented a bell to the town of Volcano
in 1863, for "...their Union contributions during the
American Civil War." This bell can still be seen in the
town, and is rung at midnight on New Year's Eve.
ADA Accessibility: The town is level, and a perfect
location for ADA Accessibility, as are the two
hotels--the Union Inn and the St. George, as well as the
General Store. Just above Volcano is the world famous Daffodil Hill.
Privately owned by the Ryan family, the ranch is open to
the public each spring when the three hundred thousand
flowers bloom. It is open weather permitting, so
telephone first: 209-296-7048.
s.Eco-Friendly Notes: Thousands of daffodils are planted
around the town by its children, and every spring the
town is literally in bloom.
About the Content Author: Ruth Gottstein is publisher
emerita of Volcano Press, and is currently working on a
history of Volcano. She would greatly appreciate any
information about the town anyone has to offer.
Additionally, should anyone want to see a wonderful
video on Volcano, Huell Howser (host of California's Gold
program on PBS) also has a series called "Road Trip With
Huell Howser." Ordering information for a copy of this
DVD can be seen here:
http://www.education-ecommerce.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=RHH127
 Pencil and ink drawing of Volcano,1854 |
Volcano (formerly, Soldier's Gulch and The Volcano) is an unincorporated community in Amador County, California. It lies at an elevation of 2070 feet (631 m). The current population is approximately 85. It is located at 38°26′35″N 120°37′51″W / 38.44306°N 120.63083°W / 38.44306; -120.63083, just north of Pine Grove. The town is registered as California Historical Landmark #29. The community is in ZIP code 95689 and area code 209.
The town is named for its setting in a bowl-shaped valley which early miners thought was caused by a volcano. The early morning fog rising from the valley floor only reinforced that belief. The spot was discovered in 1848 by Colonel Stevenson's men, who mined Soldiers Gulch in 1849. In 1851 a post office was established and by April 1852 there were 300 houses. By 1853 the flats and gulches swarmed with men, and there were 11 stores, 6 hotels, 3 bakeries, and 3 saloons. Hydraulic mining operations, begun in 1855, brought thousands of fortune seekers to form a town of 17 hotels, a library, a theater, and courts of quick justice. During the Civil War, Volcano's gold served the Union — Volcano Blues smuggled the cannon "Old Abe" to intimidate rebel sympathizers. The cannon was cast by Cyrus Alger & Co. in Boston in 1837 and is the first of two 6-pounders made on the same day to be stamped with serial number 4. The cannon was never fired. The other cannon still survives at Shiloh Battlefield and is called "Shiloh Sam". Abe is the only cannon of that age in the U.S. still on a nineteenth century wooden carriage, and has had an interesting history all on its own.
Volcano almost became the county seat in 1854 and again in 1857, but the newspaper closed in 1857 and afterwards, the town began to decline. Although small, Volcano is a town of many "firsts": * 1854 First theater group in California * 1854 First debating society in California * 1854 First circulating library in California * 1855 First private schools in California * 1855 First private law school in California * 1856 First legal hanging in Amador County * 1860 First astronomical observatory in California * 1978 First solar still in California Volcano is also home to Black Chasm Caverns, a National Natural Landmark. Community theater, first established in 1854, continues in the town through the efforts of the Volcano Theater Company. The company conducts a full season each year, performing in both the 35-seat Cobblestone Theater and in the larger outdoor Volcano Amphitheater. A post office opened in Volcano in 1851.
Notable residents:
* James T. Farley, United States Senator for California (1879-1885) * Harry B. Liversedge, two-time track star at both the 1920 and 1924 Olympics and later Brigadier General best known a the leader of the regiment figured in the historic Iwo Jima flag raising.* Angelo Joseph Rossi, 31st Mayor of San Francisco, California (1931–1944).
