Welcome To Julian, California
Gold Rush Days . . .
Step back in time for Julian Gold Rush Days

When:
June 9-10, 2012
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Where:
Julian Mining Company
4444 Hwy 78
Julian, California

Activities:
 
Historical encampments (with a chance to meet miners, mountain men & cowboys!), gun fighting, reenactments & mock claim jumping, tomahawk throwing demonstrations, gold panning & so much more!!

The old fashioned mining camp will offer free admission, vendors, an arts & crafts market, food & drink, gem mining, children's pioneer games, free parking & plenty of family fun.

Scavenger Hunt
Be on the lookout for the "golden nugget" and participating stores.

Train Ride
The folks at Julian Train & Gold Mine Tours will be offering a very special train ride - call (760) 765-2288 for reservations.

Julian Doves & Desperados
Historic comedy skits at 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m. & 3:00 p.m. located in the stage area between Julian Fitness Center & the Julian Market & Deli. For information call (760) 765-1857.

Eagle and High Peak Mine and Museum - Offers daily tours of the mines from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m..  Adults are $10.00 and children are $5.00.  Gold panning and museum are included in the price. For more information Call (760 765-1857.

History
Julian was founded following the Civil War, when displaced Confederate Veterans from Georgia headed West to seek their fortunes in a new, mostly unsettled land. Among these were cousins Drue Bailey and Mike Julian, who found a lush meadow between Volcan Mountain and the Cuyamacas to their liking. They were there in 1869 when cattleman Fred Coleman found the first flecks of gold in a creek. It was San Diego County's first and only gold rush.
The town was named Julian, in honor of Mike, who later was elected San Diego County Assessor. The town was never big, at the most boasting a population of about 600---more than reside within the historic district today. Rumor has it that Julian almost became San Diego's county seat.
The gold rush was short-lived, nearly over within a decade. But the pioneers stayed and began farming the rich land. While many crops were planted and animals pastured, Julian proved to be a fine place to grow apples. Apples continue to be produced in Julian. Their sweet, fresh flavor lures thousands to the mountains each fall, when visitors will find fruit stands overflowing with crisp fruit, homemade cider and other delicacies.

Most of the early pioneers are buried in the Julian Haven of Rest cemetery, located on the hill just North of town. The cemetery is open to the public.

The Eagle-High Peak Mine and Museum, one of the more prosperous mines during the gold rush, is open daily for tours.  The tours give you the experience of what is was like in the early days of gold mining.
 




Julian Gold Rush Days is a great opportunity to turn back the clock and give visitors an idea what Julian was like in its early days. It's entertainment for the whole family!


Games, gold panning, great food and photo ops abound!!!


See you there!



Press Release

Julian Gold Rush Days celebrates the discovery of gold in this mountain community and invites visitors to learn more about its history with a weekend of entertainment including historical encampments (with a chance to meet miners, mountain men, and cowboys), gun fighting reenactments and mock claim jumping, tomahawk throwing demonstrations, gold panning and more. Held at the Julian Mining Company in Wynola, the old fashioned mining camp will offer free admission, vendors, an arts and crafts market, food and drink, gem mining, children’s pioneer games, free parking and plenty of family fun.
In addition to the mining camp, events planned for this weekend include a scavenger hunt for the golden nugget, performances by the Julian Doves & Desperadoes, gold mine tours, gold panning, a special train ride and gold tour at Smith Ranch, photo opportunities, and fun for the entire family.
 
“Julian Gold Rush Days is a great opportunity to ‘turn back the clock’ and give visitors an idea of what Julian was like in its early days,” according to Tracy Turner, president of the Julian Merchants Association. “It’s entertainment for the whole family!”
In the winter of 1869 when former slave Fred Coleman discovered gold in a small creek just outside of Julian, it set off a frenzy that became San Diego’s own gold rush. Within a few weeks, over 800 prospectors from all over the country were headed to Julian in search of gold. The first producing gold mine, the Washington Mine, was discovered in February 1870 and within days over 40 other claims were registered.
 
The gold rush lasted off and on for about thirty years, producing almost $2 million in gold (about $150 million in today’s market). While other nearby gold mining towns such as Banner City, Branson City, Cuyamaca City, and Eastwood disappeared over time, Julian continued to thrive with the production of its newest asset - apples.
 
For more information, call 760-765-4758. Julian Gold Rush Days is sponsored by The Julian Merchants Association, a community group representing more than 90 merchants in the greater Julian area -- Julian, Wynola and Santa Ysabel in San Diego County's eastern mountains.

 


 

Read our press release about 2010 Julian Gold Rush Days by clicking here.
 
 
© Julian Merchants Association