Historical Marker · No. 466
Peter L. Traver Building
Murphys, Calaveras County · California
Erected by the California State Park Commission, with the monument erected by Chispa Parlor No. 139 N.S.G.W. and Ruby Parlor No. 46 N.D.G.W., 1953
This building was designed to survive the thing that kept destroying Murphys. Peter Traver put it up in stone in 1856 with iron shutters and a layer of sand on the roof, and it came through the fires of 1859, 1874 and 1893 while the business district around it burned. It is the oldest stone building in town. It has been a general store, a Wells Fargo office and a garage, which is what happens to a building that refuses to burn down.
What the plaque says
PETER L. TRAVER BUILDING CONSTRUCTED BY PETER L. TRAVER IN 1856. OLDEST STONE BUILDING IN MURPHYS. IRON SHUTTERS AND SAND ON ROOF PROTECTED IT FROM FIRES OF 1859, 1874, AND 1893. IT SERVED AS GENERAL STORE, WELLS FARGO OFFICE, AND LATER, GARAGE. HISTORICAL LANDMARK NO. 466 CALIFORNIA STATE PARK COMMISSION MONUMENT ERECTED BY CHISPA PARLOR NO 139 OF NSGW AND RUBY PARLOR NO. 46 OF NDGW DEDICATED JULY 19, 1953
Where it stands
38.13780, -120.46510 · Directions
Worth the stop nearby
- Columbia State Historic Park — 7.0 miThe Gem of the Southern Mines, still open for business on a car-free Gold Rush main street.
More markers nearby
- Mitchler Hotel — steps away
- Murphys — steps away
- Site of Brownsville — 1.4 mi
- Douglas Flat — 1.6 mi