2/29/1996
Landmark information
- Location:
4725 Virginiatown Rd, 0.2 mi SE of Fowler and Virginiatown Rds, 7 mi NW of Newcastle - Plaque:
Official State Plaque - Site:
Nothing Remains - Date First Visited:
2/29/1996 - Date Most Recently Visited:
2/29/1996 - GPS Coordinates:
N 38 54.025, W 121 12.87
About this landmark
Plaque text:
Virginiatown
Founded June 1851 - commonly called "Virginia." Over two thousand miners worked rich deposits. Captain John Bristow built California's first railroad, 1852, carrying pay dirt to Auburn Ravine, a distance of one mile. Site of Philip Armour's and George Aldrich's butcher shop, said to have led to founding of famous Chicago Armour Meat Packing Company.