Be sure to go to Pioneer Hall at the Presidio. The Society of California Pioneers has a new museum location, and their opening exhibit is Circa 1849: Treasures from the Archives.  The exhibit is only on until December 31, so make your plans to go soon.

These are rarely-seen treasures–photographs, paintings, manuscripts and artifacts from the Gold Rush. Pick axes and shovels, pistols and rifles that the miners used, and evening clothes, even a gold toothpick, for the ones who struck it rich.  Read the San Francisco Chronicle review here.

The new museum location at the Presidio will have a changing display of materials from their collections. In January they will be showing old daguerreotypes and ambrotypes. If California history fascinates you, then put the Society of California Pioneers on your list of places to visit. And if your ancestor came to California before 1850, if you are the descendant of a true 49er, then you can join the Society. But for a Johnny-come-lately like me, I’ll just have to be a visitor.