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Historic Highlights of Yuba-Sutter
Fremont Monument
Highway 20 Near Southeast Corner of Buttes.
General John C. Fremont established a major camp at the base of the Sutter Buttes,
from where he helped the United States secure California ahead of the aspirations of
the English, Russians and French. In June 1846, Fremont met with and advised Ezekial
“Stuttering” Merritt, leader of a small group of American immigrants, to attack Mexico’s
Northern Regional Headquarters at Sonoma. The attack precipitated hostilities between
Mexico and the United States over the California territory, providing justification for
the United States to bring more troops into California and block the intrigue of the
Europeans. California became a state four years later.
Johnson's Crossing [Map]
Johnson's Crossing was part of the emigrant trail from Truckee. Johnson's Ranch
was the first settlement reached by survivors of the Donner Party, which included Mary
Murphy for whom the City of Marysville is named.
New Mecklenburg (Silver Dollar Saloon) [Map]
[Website]
The land on which Marysville is built was originally leased to Theodore Cordua, a
Prussian emigrant, by John Sutter in 1842. Cordua named the area for his homeland.
Sutter's Hock Farm
Sutter's Hock Farm, established in 1842 on the west bank of the Feather River, was,
with its orchards and vineyards, one of the first large-scale agricultural settlements in
Northern California.
Thompson Seedless Grape [Website]
William Thompson and his family settled in Sutter County in 1863. In 1872, he sent to New York for
three cuttings of a grape called Lady de Coverly. Only one cutting survived, but the grape, first
publicly displayed in Marysville in 1875, became known as Thompson’s seedless grape. Today, thousands
of acres of grapes are planted in California for the production of raisins, bulk wine and table grapes.
Timbuctoo & Smartville [Map]
Timbuctoo (1849) and Smartville (1856) were both bustling Gold Rush mining towns that lost
population after the Sawyer Decision which put an end to hydraulic mining.
Wheatland Hop Riots [Map]
In 1913, two workers and two law enforcement officers, including the District Attorney of Yuba County,
were killed in one of the most well-known events in California labor history. The Wheatland Hop Riots
occurred after workers complained about working conditions and the owner of the Durst hop farm called
authorities. The riot focused public opinion for the first time on the plight of farm workers and
resulted in a federal investigation of farm working conditions and new regulations for providing basic
housing and sanitary amenities. It was the first major farm labor confrontation in California. A marker
is located at Sixth and A Streets.
W.T. Ellis Jr. [Map]
Born in 1866, the son of one of Marysville's first merchants, Ellis became the Mayor of
Marysville at the age of 28. Known as the Father of the Marysville Levee System, Ellis'
monument is engraved with his admonition; "Always Watch the Tricky Yuba", referring to the
Yuba River. Ellis Lake, with its surrounding walk and picnic areas, was named after him.
Yuba Goldfields
Off Highway 20 at Parks Bar Bridge. More gold has been taken from the Yuba River watershed
than any other river in the United States. Hydraulic mining activity in the Sierra Nevada
washed tens of millions of tons of debris into the Yuba River, and much of it washed out of
the Yuba River canyon burying the large mining camp Parks Bar and a place called Weiser’s Bar,
where 100 Chinese miners reportedly drowned in a huge flood.
In the 20th century, floating
dredgers were employed to search for gold in the debris that flattened out over 10,000 acres.
The dredging activity created dozens of ponds amid a moonscape of gravel piles, but the area
is populated by a variety of flora and fauna and has become a popular location for four-wheeling,
fishing, hiking and hunting.