Exploring Mokelumne Hill, an 1850s Mother Lode town

Jeff and Sarah take this episode of History Hunters to Mokelumne Hill which was a gold mining town that grew up after the Gold Rush of 1849. They'll take a look at some of the old buildings that remain and check out the cemetery where they find some interesting inhabitants, including Edith Irvine who was known for taking photos of the San Francisco Earthquake.
#mokelumnehill #historyhunters #calaverascounty

[@FYIfuckutube2011]

The 3 story building was quite the hang out 25 or so yrs ago. There was a stuffed buffalo inside and a secret room was located through an old refrigerator

[@CaliforniaFly]

Edith made some nice photos, but she looks scary as hell.

[@vargasfamily282]

Thank you Edith Irvine for your photos of the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake. The team of horses illustrate how fresh and overwhelming it was. I’ve never seen that photo before, I’ll always remember it. History Hunters is high caliber.

[@memeguyTM]

I stay in South Africa and your videos are published around 5pm our time on a Sunday so it makes the perfect end to my weekend. Thanks guys.

[@pamelag2223]

What's not to like? A very interesting town, so much history there and a wild playground ride to boot!

[@jeffcasey504]

Just found you, excellent tour! My folks lived in Angels Camp during the war and my dad worked as a soldier-miner in the Copperopolis mine until it caved in. His group went AWOL the night a drift ran into the main shaft, and they lived. Thanks for doing these, looking forward to reviewing all your vids!

[@martinp1544]

It is is interesting stuff to think about all those settlers going west on a dangerous journey for a new life. Life was short.

[@ralphpatrick3071]

Nice to see a neighboring town. I live in Pine Grove above Jackson. I can drive to Moke Hill in about 30 minutes. Did you go into the bar with the secret passage? Behind the bar is a refrigerator, you open the door and pass into a secret room that houses a pool table. Don’t know if it’s still there. I enjoyed the inserts of you two in your younger days. Thanks, very enjoyable!

[@carolelauenroth2106]

My great aunt and uncle lived in Mokelumne Hill for a long time. They had the coolest old house outside of town. They said portions of it had been an orphanage and a barn before they bought it.

[@vernareed2692]

Wonder if their old house is still there?

[@jeffdavis7376]

My cousin lives there also she's lived in that area her entire life

[@rogerlawson4516]

Medal of Honors are earned, not won. Good job, Sarah and Jeff.

[@thepickerhat6996]

Great Nostalgia Guys. Enjoyed the Upload. Beautiful old Houses and Shops over there. When i see those old Grave Stones, some with german Names, i tend to think that you Folks over there in the US have preserved more even german History than actually we here in Germany. Always great to see how our Forefathers lived and what happened to them. On a Sidenote: Some great Choice of underlying Music Guys. Wish you a good Time :)

[@avalon1rae]

My family member was the engineer on the hotel Leger remodel years back.Terry Weatherby at Weatherby, Reynolds, Fritz in Jackson California.

[@robertrowland5813]

Never heard of Edith Irvine before your presentation about Mokelumne Hill today. Thanks for it, Jeff. From doing an extra bit of research, she was a truly amazing lady and the photos she took in San Francisco and elsewhere are simply priceless. It's a real shame that her gravesite is so barren.

[@jerrymestas1231]

Never dawned on me who took the photos of the earthquake back in the day. So cool now in the history of it now, and that those photos were actually captured. Thank you for the tour.

[@Thomas8892Q]

Love the history. Again, a nice T.E. Lewis and Clark tune from His Mystery album, at the end. Very fitting. I Look forward to yours and Sarah’s next adventure

[@thesolidsnakealpha]

A beautiful, historic town. Thank you 🙏

[@bryan565656]

Thanks for doing a video on this town. I learned a few things I didn’t know but I wish you would’ve touched a little more in the mining history. There are very extensive placer mine throughout mokelumne hill. The sport hill mine also produced very large quartz crystals and were mined and used during ww2. Some of these mines like the deep blue lead have drifts that’s were thousands of feet long and operated into the 40’s. You can still see the mountain of cobble tailings on sport hill rd.

[@heden1460]

I have recently discovered the old Time Team UK series. When you menitoned about the older cemetaries being on hills, it reminded me that aspect goes back a long ways, because they find cemetaries on hills throughout time. Of course they found cemetaries everywhere, but quite a number on hills. Cemeatires are interesting places

[@davepalmerton2429]

Another interesting episode Jeff and Sarah. I so enjoy learning about the history of these obscure areas.

[@tresilewis5925]

Great video, very well done. Gorgeous cemetery. Love the magnificent architecture of the headstones.

[@OfficialGhostBoiiz]

Yes!💪😁👍 You guys find the most awesome locations.

[@jbenziggy]

Thank you very much! California is full of unique old towns to explore!

[@brookeshaffer4377]

Love this channel! Keeping history alive🌟

[@jbenziggy]

Awesome! We love hearing that you love it! Makes it worth the effort!!!

[@corinnerundell8154]

I lived in Calaveras County for 16 years now and didn’t know about some this history. It was very interesting to learn.

[@suzanneochs1543]

I find myself waiting patiently in anticipation of another adventure back in time with History Hunters !!! So glad to see and experience another episode ! What a beautiful area of California rich in history !! Thank you again Jeff and Sarah for brightening my day !

[@vonwebber7852]

Hi Jeff and Sarah! Every time you show a grave of a person thats traveled half way around the world with the hopes of a different life, it amazes me. Unlike today, we have access to instant information. In the mid 1800's how did they learn about California? Then to have a person in Switzerland, say, lets move to California and try to strike it rich. Now to get there, no cars, no planes, wow. Ride a horse to a train if there is one. Make it to a sailing ship, back to a horse. With most people having a short life span in that time period, most of their life was spent traveling. Amazes me they made it.

[@mikeseier4449]

It may be an obscure town as you say, Jeff.. But you make it into a very interesting and informative video as always. Thanks.

[@jbenziggy]

My pleasure! Thank you so very much!

[@runswthwolves832]

I drive past there on my way up and back from San Andreas, the sign at least. Have never stopped and had no idea what was there.

[@kathyraymond2216]

Once again I have learned something new from your videos. I had never heard of Edith Irvine and I lived in the SF Bay Area for 55 years. It is so important to know and remember history. Thank you!

[@blastquake8688]

I respond with the amazing firefighters there they are so friendly

[@AB-ye7bw]

Your video tours make a lazy Sunday that much better. Learning new things about our greater area in California. Thank you and Sarah.

[@jbenziggy]

Awesome sauce! Thank you for spending part of your day with us! We are honored!

[@Bl.ben23]

I go to Mokelumne Hill every weekend

[@jimrossi7708]

I love learning about history and the towns and people who built this great nation !! I did and still do buy books that explain and show photography of the old times of most towns in New Jersey and also Maine as these are the 2 places I have lived !

[@mariaa4572]

Always enjoy going back to the past..very interesting and you learn something new with every video! Thank you so much!🥰

[@jbenziggy]

Thanks very much! What part of the world are you?

[@mariaa4572]

@@jbenziggy I'm from California, and have never really gotten a chance to travel to many places you've gone to, so to learn California's history through your videos is awesome!...

[@russwentz3957]

Thank you again, for another great history video. This one was especially enjoyable.

[@decoconstruction]

Thank you Jeff and Sarah for an amazing look into our past, we have been there many times but now have a whole new perspective of the town, great job 👍

[@bradkay9538]

Hello. Come to Indiana. There has got to be something interesting here.

[@lornahardin4563]

Well, we had another great trip. Thank you Jeff and Sarah.

[@jbenziggy]

We did have a great trip, didn’t we? Lol. Thanks for joining us!

[@lornahardin4563]

@@jbenziggy Waiting for the next one. Have you ever done Georgetown, great cemetery too.

[@rhondaz356]

Jeff, this, as usual, was very interesting. I love the way you incorporate the past visually, with the present, as you fill in the history of the sites. That place is a gold mine.The cemeteries hold a wealth of info.👏👍Those earthquake' pictures are amazing. Thanks so much, Jeff and Sarah, you've done it again.💥💥

[@deanvinlove6095]

I used to live in central California, and loved to see these places! I live in Kansas now and you’ve Brought back some fond memories of these areas ! Thank you! Keep the Histories alive !!

[@jbenziggy]

Thanks for sharing, Dean!! We appreciate your enthusiasm for our channel! Jeff & Sarah

[@johnnyjesus8]

Love the stories behind the towns the people who owned the businesses the hotels ect then were they are at rest. Another brilliant vlog Jeff and Sarah thanks so much.

[@tractorhyatt7044]

Another great episode, thank you! That is a neat old rustic town you two visited. Love the old buildings and the Chevy too. Beautiful, peaceful cemetery on top of a hill. 🇺🇸🚜👍

[@Slick2462]

Really enjoyed this video, The background information is so interesting and entertaining for me. Jeff and Sarah really make a great team. KUDOS!

[@goofydog2]

I truly enjoy the parts of history that interest two! Especially the grave stones. You learn so much by reading the inscriptions on the grave markers.

[@johnrambo7630]

Great episode. Interesting to hear the stories behind the graves that are 100+ years old.

[@williamclifford9757]

Very detailed show one of your best. The both of you work really hard and I greatly appreciate your effort. Thanks again and anxiously await your next show.❤️👋

[@doncrawford2296]

Born and raised in Moke Hill...My folks are still there..have family buried in that cemetery..Very cool vid brings back all kinds of memories..lost my virginity in the Hotel Leger..😁

[@nicholedecker9124]

Traveling to a mountain town was always one of my favorite days out! What inbreeding interesting history! I could just see the people going about their business and could imagine what the building's used to look like. Also I couldn't leave unless I roamed around the cemetery. Thank you so much for all the work you do so I can environment enjoy your videos.

[@mikes3174]

Jeff and Sarah, this was one of your best episodes ever. I also enjoyed the older pics from previous visits popping up in the mix. Growing up nearby, I've visited several Gold Rush sites but not Mokelumne Hill. This is going on my list of places to visit next time I'm down in California. Thanks for all the hard work that you put into these episodes - I really enjoy them!

[@HollywoodGraham]

No improvement needed, audio and vision are outstanding, research ditto. Of course your presentation is excellent and you bother to not just speed through the towns but point out architecture, historical facts. Explanations of who, what, why, when and how the subject of the video came to be. A BIG Thank You to both of you.

[@jbenziggy]

That is a great review! Thank you very much!! I consider your comments to be the ultimate compliment!

[@charangoguy]

As Harry Truman once said, "The only thing new in the world is the history you don't know." Thanks again for a great vlog.

[@jamescoe4765]

Truman also explained why he was called "give em hell Harry" and he replied "I just tell the truth and they call it Hell". We need more like him today.

[@beccab6412]

I could spend all day watching your cemetery walk throughs! So fascinating to learn about the types of people who are buried there.

[@jbenziggy]

That is great to hear Becca! We appreciate your supportive comments!

[@timberk5]

These are the kind of videos I really enjoy I could watch these all day long.

[@pamelakern2849]

I love to sit back and enjoy your videos 🤩 This video had great content!! The pictures of the earthquake were not only fascinating but very sad . I will be looking forward to your next video 😃

[@BrianBraaten]

The whole town has tunnels going to the buildings and under the hotel under ground rooms you can go through

[@vernareed2692]

There is an old town in Oklahoma called Guthrie with tunnels underground from & to different buildings. Said for safety due to robberies,& storms-dust,snow etc. Guthrie was at one time the capitol of Oklahoma until it was stolen in the middle of the night & taken to Oklahoma city where it remained until today. I have forgotten details as it's been few years since i read the history but best i can remember,& also seems like there is a boot hill cemetery,& some gunslingers buried there.

[@timothyjohnson1787]

Hi Jeff and Sarah, another great episode, you went through all the details of the town. You took your time talking about the importance of people who lived and died there it was just well thought out. Thanks

[@frankcasey7423]

Great job guy’s! Another great history gem! You did an awesome job! I would love to be able to rummage around those old houses and buildings and see if I could find old newspapers or trinkets from back in the day. That old town seems to have quite a bit of history and I love how they still a lot of the old buildings still there and refurbished a bit. Really cool piece of history. Thanks again Jeff and Sarah! Take care now and see next week guy’s! Frank from Philadelphia, PA.👍

[@johnharms6178]

well done- I love highway 49, from end to end-

[@shannahuffman4655]

I like How you are in these gold Rush towns and then pay your respects in their Cemeteries

[@jared1870]

I LOVE seeing the historic sites you visit. Jeff give the history and Sarah give the color.

[@samageable]

love your videos, I always look forward to the weekend hoping for a new video. I miss being in California and being able to visit all the places you take me. Thank you!

[@donaldscott7279]

Amazing photos, enjoyed very much

[@breakstuffinc]

11:00 1st gen Corvette rotting away in the weeds. Another great journey, thanks!

[@nicholedecker2979]

Love the old towns of California. I was born in Turlock and grew up in Livingston-Delhi area. We would travel to the hills and wonder around cemetery's like the one shown here. Also the way you tell the history of each place is wonderful. Thank you!

[@jbenziggy]

Nice to hear Nichole! Thanks very much for watching and commenting!

[@lisaburns1660]

I really loved this little town. I love listening to all the history you manage to get. Of course I love when you guys go to the cemeteries! You two never fail to make me laugh! Great video!

[@mikalpechota770]

Love watching your videos and learning about history. It was cool to see the medal of honor grave out there. The next grave after that was weird to hear where she was from. I’m from Battle Creek, MI. Take care.

[@larrymiller8210]

Thanks for the ride! Really enjoyed! Thanks as always. Larry Miller San Diego Ca.

[@bossco2001]

Thanks for the tour of a town I never heard of..but should have!

[@chrisbutler176]

Thank you Jeff !! Always look forward to your work !!! 👍👍

[@ednagreen62]

Another great episode! Thank you for bringing us along.

[@foxmulder4269]

Awesome as always guys, you always out do your selves, much appreciated and many of your vids I watch over and over. Its so relaxing and such a nice departure from all the bad stuff going on, and Jeff your historical exposition is very professional and so real and makes me really feel like I'm witnessing the actual reality you describe. Geeze, its so great !

[@theodoredugranrut8201]

Always love learning g California history , with you leading the lessons. Thanks Jeff and Sarah. Central California Watching

[@markfrench8892]

As always, a very interesting and informative video! Thanks!

[@haroldtakahashi8875]

gotta love the mok...especially, the extensive, impressive stonework...also, it's good to see the cemetery is well-cared for...

[@carolynpurser7469]

So enjoying watching the older videos I haven't seen as well as the new ones.

[@brendashaw2035]

Always love your videos. The only way I get to travel. Thank you

[@Ziggyaig]

What a great episode!! Love these old towns!! Reminds me of Truckee a little bit. Great information and camera work as always!! ❤

[@jbenziggy]

They are unique little towns and fortunately we have a lot of them in the gold country to visit! I don’t think we could pull off this channel anywhere else! Thank you so much for being so supportive all the time!

[@-elchoya9832]

5:40,1946.another nice enjoyable outing.nice to go historic places during this unpleasentness.not many people around.

[@angiejensen2335]

Great history video!! I really enjoy how you show old pics with what the buildings and places look like today. The cemetery walk throughs with pics and history of its residents relating back to the town and other history is so well done. I am searching for someone in my state who does historic videos similar to yours. Keep up the great work!

[@larryrobertson2150]

The photograph at 18:08 shows a lot of history. Note the woman on the left ( i think is making ice cream ) is smiling , which you usually don't see in these older pictures. Thanks for the tour Jeff.

[@HaulingDonkey]

Such a great little town. My better half and I stopped by there a year ago. Thanks for sharing.

[@jbenziggy]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@dscobellusa]

Loved this video Jeff and Sarah...I think what I like best is your relating the buildings and history to people who lived there. Hearing their stories is fascinating! I really enjoyed seeing the cemetery and the headstones. What a beautiful place to rest. I don't think you can improve the video. I also enjoyed seeing your pics of the 2013 visit. Pretty neat video! Thanks so much!

[@slink1957]

Nice work. I like the 2013 integrated flashback affect as well as the GIF of Sarah on the playground equipment :)

[@terrydevries914]

Nice video😎😎Moke Hill nice little town. I think the Petroglyph Gallery is one of the nicest art galley around this area!

[@randybrown6795]

Hey Jeff great video I live in dalton ky.i live about 8 miles from providence I have family living there it's a old coal mining town a lot of history there you and sara are awesome Randy from Kentucky.

[@johnb.carpenter6862]

Great episode! I’ll bet that town was a wild place on a Saturday night. Edith’s photos are very historic .. Two reasons why they put cemeteries on hills. In the case of flooding the graves won’t be damaged. Hills didn’t make good farming land or homesteads.

[@jbenziggy]

You make a great deal of sense! Thanks for that!

[@johnb.carpenter6862]

Just something I l earned from hanging out in old historical cemeteries.

[@cenvalleysteel]

Great video. We'll have to take a little ride South and have a new enlightened look about Moke' Hill again. Keep putting out the great material.

[@tylerdavies3038]

Next summer I’m taking my kids on a road trip... I love history..

[@kennybob52]

Another great video. Thank you Blessings from Texas

[@WyomingTraveler]

I drove through and briefly stopes in Mokelumne Hill back in 1969. I enjoyed reminiscing with your video. I found it interesting how the old building were recycled from store/salon to store to home.

[@jbenziggy]

Hi! Thanks for watching! So you guys are in Wyoming? I have been there twice!

[@jenniferlapaglia686]

So cool !!! Interesting fact about Edith Irvine, I'm about 15-20 min south from Irvine, in San Clemente !!! You guys should come down this way sometime, lots of history down here in San Clemente, The Spanish Village by the Sea... and of course, home to 'The Western White House'... and not to forget, Dana Point & San Juan Capistrano.. 🌴⛱🌅🤙🌺🌞

[@kellybecker7769]

This is my hometown. Worked here twice in my life and one of my favorite places ever. And yes i have many ghostly experiences here while working here and cleaning rooms.

[@tomstephens2689]

Wow. What a coincidence. The wife and I enjoyed lunch up here today. In fact as we passed the old cemetery I thought of you. I almost stopped to check out the old headstones, but didn't. Now I wish I had. We love all of the old historical towns and sites on route 49. And it's a beautiful part of California.

[@shigella63]

Another great video by Jeff and Sarah!

[@johnkelsey2482]

A very interesting town, Good Vlog...Thanks...

[@MrEbug68]

Very Satisfactory Lesson!

[@BarbaraSalisbury-st7bu]

Love seeing all the old towns of California and learning more about them. Maybe its morbid but I have to admit my favorite parts of the old town videos are seeing the cemetaries. They are so much more interesting than the modern ones.

[@jbenziggy]

I don't think cemetery interest is morbid. There is a reality that we are born, live and die. While the body dies, I believe the spirit lives on. Remembering folks in those graves is honoring them!

[@jackduke3209]

That was some cool history I like watching your channel

[@jbenziggy]

We appreciate that Jack!

[@tdk4660]

I don’t know how but I’ve never been Mokelumne hill. Must have drove right by it! Great episode

[@OffRampAdventures]

You hit pay dirt with this video! Interesting tour!

[@kiera_kayaks7521]

Jeff you visit all of my childhood towns. I love it. My father worked in Mokelumne Hill. And I just watched a video you did on Oakdale. where we lived when I was an infant