Sleep like a successful prospector
Gold Rush and early California dreams live on in vintage 19th century hotels. Here are four where you can get a room and a feeling for those heady times.
Jamestown
This 1859 Historic National Hotel near Sonora has operated continually since it opened a decade after the start of the Gold Rush in 1849. It began as a 12-room, one-bath hotel. Two brothers bought the Jamestown in 1974 and have restored and modernized nine rooms, each with its own bathroom. Info: 18183 Main St.; national-hotel.com. Rooms from $140.
Upper Lake
The Tallman Hotel is one of the grand hotels built in the 1870s north of Clear Lake. The hotel was said to be a popular stop between Sacramento and San Francisco for travelers who wanted to soak in the area’s natural mineral waters. A new owner bought the property 15 years ago and has restored it, keeping the fir floors, staircases and banisters. Info: 9550 Main St.; tallman hotel.com. Rooms from $149.
Groveland
The Groveland Hotel, built in 1849, stands at the Gold Rush-era Garrote Camp. It was a trading post before it became a hotel. When mining declined, the building changed hands many times. Last summer new owners bought it, restored it and reopened it in February. It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Renovated rooms feature more modern decor, including platform beds topped with memory-foam mattresses. Info: 18767 Main St.; grove land.com. Rooms from $139.
San Francisco
This Victorian was built in 1890 by U.S. Sen. James Fair, who made big money not from gold but from silver mining in Nevada’s Comstock Lode. It first served as Miss Mary Lake’s Finishing School for Girls (rumor has it she still haunts Room 410) and withstood the devastating 1906 earthquake and subsequent fire. After changing hands, falling into disrepair and being restored, the hotel in Pacific Heights now charms guests with its large bay windows, wood-burning fireplaces and whirlpool tubs (depending on your room). The 48 rooms reflect period decor; tea and sherry are served daily in the Parlor Room. Info: 1590 Sutter St.; queen anne.com. Rooms from $125.