Murphys: Queen of the Sierra

The reception for my cousin's Quinceanera took place in Murphys, California. Murphys is an historic town with a lot of charm and natural beauty. This creek runs parallel to the main street. There are plenty of bridges to cross and benches to use when you visit this goldrush mining town.

Murphys is in the heart of California's historic Motherlode region.

"Located in Calaveras County in the Sierra Nevada Mountains between Lake Tahoe and Yosemite National Park, Murphys is a quaint and charming goldrush-era town replete with well-preserved historic buildings, a welcoming atmosphere and an abundance of recreational and cultural opportunities.

"Often called the "Queen of the Sierra," Murphys has retained the charm of yesteryear, even as it has grown and developed into a modern community with all the amenities expected by today’s visitors. Many original goldrush-era buildings are still in use today, including the Murphys Historic Hotel and Lodge, a registered State Historic Landmark which once hosted such luminaries as General Ulysses S. Grant, Mark Twain, Horatio Alger, and Charles Bolton, aka notorious outlaw “Black Bart.”

We stayed at Murphys Historic Hotel and Lodge. It was a perfect location, less than two blocks down the street from where the Quinceanera took place. For that Saturday night in early November, Murphys became a little bit like Valparaiso, Zacatecas with plenty of sombrero-wearing and boot-stomping guests arriving at the fiesta hall.

"Towering, stately elm trees line Main St., providing a canopy of green that adds to the historic charm and ambience of the streetscape.

"Daniel and John Murphy settled the area in 1848, at the start of the great California gold rush. Shrewd traders and smart businessmen both, the brothers made their fortune supplying the legions of gold miners flocking to the area, and legend has it that they were millionaires by the time they turned 25.

"Located at approximately the 2,000-foot elevation level, Murphys is ideally situated above the central valley fog, yet generally below the snowline. Year-round weather is pleasant and mild, with temperatures ranging from the mid-30’s to 60’s during the winter months, and 70’s to 90’s during the summer."