Take a Historic Tour Through Marysville
by Leah Champagne
Yuba Sutter is full of rich history and culture, but nowhere is it celebrated quite like in Marysville. You might not notice it at first glance, but this little town has a deep cultural history that shaped it into what it is today. With a handful of unique museums that preserve, celebrate and teach about the people who shaped this region, there’s no shortage of things to learn in Marysville.
Spend a January weekend safe from the cold weather inside one of our many wonderful museums. You can bring the kids or explore history on your own throughout Marysville at one of these three great museums.
Chinese American Museum of Northern California
Housed in an original Gold Rush Era building, built in 1858, the Chinese American Museum of Northern California is dedicated to the Chinese immigrants who settled in the state during the Gold Rush.
Close to the Bok Kai Temple, the Chinese American museum reminds visitors of the nearly forgotten history of Chinese Americans in California. Time has worked hard to erase the existence of Chinese immigrants over the years, with most historic Chinatowns either abandoned or destroyed. The museum is located in Marysville’s Chinatown, the last existing Gold Rush Era Chinatown in the state, to commemorate the culture.
This museum is a great way to learn about an important part of California history and celebrate the culture that infuses this area. It’s open on the first Saturday of every month from 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Mary Aaron Museum
Another historic Marysville spot, the Mary Aaron Museum is an iconic family home in the heart of town. It was built in the 1800s and has seen much of the areas history pass by as it stood stately and firm.
The home was originally built as a family residence by inventor and architect Warren P. Miller. His profession shines through in the home’s conspicuous Gothic construction. The brick walls and decorative parapets make the house look and feel almost like a castle.
Miller lived in the house with his family until he sold it to the Aaron family in the 1870s. In 1955, Mary Aaron’s son gifted the home to the city of Marysville as a historic museum. It’s open Fridays and Saturdays from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. or by appointment. Guided tours are free and donations are welcome.
Museum of the Forgotten Warriors
To round off your tour of historic Marysville, stop by the Museum of Forgotten Warriors. Founded by Dan Spear in 1985, this museum is a tribute to the veterans who served the U.S. in various wars throughout history.
Spear collected military memorabilia, patches and photos from friends for over 20 years with the goal of creating this museum. Now it includes over 46,000 artifacts, including a blanket from the Revolutionary War.
The museum is located just outside of Marysville near the Beale Air Force Base. It’s open every Saturday from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. and admission is free.
Make it Marysville Historic Weekend
There’s a lot to see in Historic Marysville, but you don’t have to pack it all into one day. Stay the weekend to learn about historic cultures, the Gold Rush Era and what our country’s military heroes endured.
There’s food and fun for the whole family in Yuba Sutter! Plus you get to learn something new.