Groveland

The register moved a date onto the wrong noun. The bronze says the adobe buildings were built in 1849, proved by a dated brick taken from a partition; the state's text says Groveland was built in 1849, which is a different claim about a different thing. The town was First Garrote before it was Groveland, renamed off the hanging of a Mexican for stealing a horse. The bronze keeps Deer Flat, Noisy Flat and The Rancheria as nearby places; the register drops all three.

What the plaque says

MARK TWAIN BRET HARTE TRAIL GROVELAND FORMERLY CALLED "FIRST GARROTE" TRACED TO HANGING OF MEXICAN FOR STEALING HORSE. ADOBE BUILDINGS STILL STANDING (1949) BUILT IN 1849 AS SHOWN BY DATED ADOBE BRICK TAKEN FROM PARTITION. GOLD DISCOVERED HERE 1849. THOUSANDS IN PLACER GOLD TAKEN FROM MINES ON GARROTE CREEK, BIG CREEK AND OTHER DIGGINGS. DEER FLAT, NOISY FLAT AND THE RANCHERIA WELL KNOWN NEARBY PLACES IN HEYDAY. STATE REGISTERED LANDMARK NO. 446 TABLET PLACED BY CALIFORNIA CENTENNIALS COMMISSION. BASE PROVIDED BY BIG OAK FLAT HIGHWAY 120 ASSOCIATION DEDICATED NOVEMBER 27, 1949

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Columbia State Historic Park — 17 mi
  The Gem of the Southern Mines, still open for business on a car-free Gold Rush main street.

More markers nearby

• Big Oak Flat — 2.0 mi
• Second Garrote — 2.1 mi
• Jacksonville — 8.3 mi
• Tuolumne — 8.7 mi