The Tower House Historic District sits in the western section of Whiskeytown National Recreation Area where three creeks merge into one, a place where Wintu heritage meets California Gold Rush history.
Details
- Type
- Historic Site
- Accessibility
- Limited accessibility
Overview
The district lies about 7.5 miles west of the Whiskeytown visitor center along Highway 299, listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1973 for its tie to early settlement in northern California during the Gold Rush. A footbridge crosses Clear Creek at the site, on the spot of an earlier toll bridge.
History
Charles Camden built the Camden House in 1852, at the start of the Gold Rush. The district is named for Levi Tower, an early Shasta County businessman who grew a prize-winning fruit orchard on the land beginning in the 1850s. After Tower died, Camden took over the orchard. Surviving trees from that orchard are among the oldest remnants of Whiskeytown's pioneer era and hold heirloom fruit cultivars.
Know Before You Go
The 2018 Carr Fire burned through much of the area, though the Camden House itself survived. The park has restored the historic orchard and offers occasional tours of the Camden House.