After gold was discovered in 1850 Columbia grew rapidly becoming one of the largest cities in California with a population of over 25,000. The boom lasted for less than 20 years. As the town settled into a decline, miners tore down vacant buildings and began digging up the town lots creating depressions with limestone outcroppings which are now grassy parks.
Like most early towns in the US, Columbia experienced several fires. Main Street was rebuilt after the fire of 1854 using locally produced red brick. These buildings are still standing forming the nucleus of the state park, and the state’s largest collection of gold rush era structures, which includes over 50 buildings and exhibits. About half of the buildings house restaurants and shops, the rest have exhibits depicting the gold rush era.
Main Street is closed to traffic so it’s possible to walk/roll down the middle of the street. The sidewalks are elevated boardwalk. Most of the entrances to the buildings are level with the boardwalk. Ramps from the street to the boardwalk provide access but the boardwalk has steps at places so backtracking is sometimes necessary. The Columbia Museum and most of the buildings on Main Street that have exhibits inside are accessible.
The parking lot on the south end of town at the intersection of Parrotts Ferry Road and Columbia Street is large enough for RVs if parked across the spaces. Getting to town from this lot requires climbing a steep hill so anyone with physical limitations should continue driving up the hill and park in one of the lots on the top of the hill or along a side street. Park
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