Dunbar House History

The Dunbar House is an Italianate style home built in 1880 by Willis Dunbar for his bride, Ellen Roberts, of Douglas Flat. Willis was superintendent of the Utica Water Company, a forerunner of the Pacific Gas & Electric system. He served in the State Assembly, operated an 880 acre ranch in Arnold, and owned the Dunbar Lumber Company in Murphys.

Gold Country History

Remnants of the wild and woolly Gold Rush days tell the tale of this region where the discovery of gold in 1848 triggered one of the biggest gold rushes of all time. For most visitors, dreams of finding gold and instant riches have given way to the lure of historic sites, charming inns, award-winning wineries, fine restaurants, antique shops, art galleries and an abundance of outdoor recreation.

Murphys, Queen of the Sierra

Daniel and John Murphy settled in the area in 1848. From a small tent, the Murphy brothers did some very shrewd trading and sold supplies at inflated prices, while using the local Indians for labor on their claims. Rumor has it that both brothers were millionaires before they turned twenty-five.

Fifteen miles up the mountain, A.T. Dowd put Calaveras on the international map when he discovered the huge groves of Giant Sequoias Redwoods. Because their fame grew so quickly, by 1855 the Sperry & Perry Hotel - now known as Murphys Historic Hotel & Lodge - was built to accommodate the multitude of travelers. The old hotel register contains names such as Mark Twain, Horatio Alger, Ulysses S. Grant, and Charles Bolton, aka Black Bart.

The picturesque village of Murphys is know today for its many natural attractions including caverns for public viewing, a charming Main Street with friendly merchants and unique shops, spectacular wineries, art galleries, gold panning and world class golf.