Friends of Columbia State Historic Park

FRIENDS welcomes you to the beautiful Columbia State Historic Park, with the largest selection of mid-1850 Gold Rush era brick buildings in the whole country. Special interpretive programs are offered year round for schools and groups. Columbia is a living town with over 20 concessions and as many businesses with their own Chamber of Commerce. Activities and events can be found on their web pages.

Friends of Columbia State Historic Park (formally Columbia Historical Preservation Society) is a nonprofit public benefit corporation that has been active since 1984. The mission of Friends is to further the preservation, educational and interpretive activities of Columbia State Historic Park, sponsor activities that increase the public's understanding and appreciation of the values and purposes of Columbia SHP. Much of the work done by Friends is in support of the state park which benefits many aspects of the community; tourism, volunteerism, and as stewards of this historic town. In short, Friends accomplishes its mission by obtaining funds that are then spent on preservation, educational and interpretive activities at Columbia SHP. This web page is one that is supported by funds contributed to Friends.

Many of the programs sponsored by Friends are among the most popular activities in the park. They sponsor living history programs and maintain and construct living history sites. Interpretive and living history at Columbia has been a tremendous success in large measure due to the support of Friends.

Friends receives its funds from a number of different sources. The profit made on items sold at the museum desk goes to Friends. Visitors and surrounding businesses are encouraged to make tax deductible donations to this organization. Fund raising events are held throughout the year. View some of our supporters, Click this page!
The Columbia Diggins 1852 demonstration, the Big Band Street Dance 1945 and the Lamplight Tours are among the most popular fund raising events.

The major source of Friends funding is through generous donations. These tax deductible donations are a great asset to the organization and thus to the interpretive activities in the park. You may join the Friends of Columbia State Historic Park by paying through the secured site or printing out the Donation Form and mailing it back with your check. If you are unable to print the form, or if you want more information you may call the Friends president at 209-533-1852 or send a SASE to PO Box 367, Columbia CA 95310 and we will send you the form and answer any questions you may have.

A semi-quarterly newsletter is also sent to those who join our growing list of donors. See our most current publication listed on bar to left. (Caution: You will need Adobe PDF to open and a fast modem, DSL or better)