Welcome
Welcome to Knight's Ferry Museum & Historical Society
17631 Main St, Knights Ferry, CA, United States, California
Join Us
Knight's Ferry Peddlers Fair April 28, 2024
Starting out as 1963 as a Flea Market held on main street, organized by Faye and Mort Walker, the Knight's Ferry Peddlers Fair has been a community event bringing families and friends together for over 60 years. Join us as we hunt for bargain as well as those hard to find treasure.
About Us
Historical Overview
Knights Ferry, during its height, was an interesting and lively place. About 15,000 people based their operations in the town. There were large well-stocked stores: a newspaper, The Knights Ferry Bee, an enterprising weekly, or 20 pages, published by W.J. Collier: Hotels, liquor houses, livery stables, Protestant and Catholic churches and schools. The fraternities were represented by the Masons, Odd Fellows, and the Temperance Order. To this western outpost, in the middle “50’s” [1850’s] came a young lieutenant, of the United States Army, who would become both a General in the Union Army during the Civil War, and eventually President of the United States, Ulysses S Grant. He was there to visit his brother-in-law, Fred Dent. Dent operated a store and ferry. When word came of a “big strike” in the mountains close by, it was the Knights Ferry bank of Palmer & Co. which floated the bonds to build the Sonora-Bodie road, now called Sonora Pass. (Excerpt from Stanislaus Stepping Stones 1978)
Digital Exhibits
Personal Stories & Histories
Hear stories and interviews rom the people that make up the history of our community.
Museum Photo Galleries
Explore some of the artifacts and treasures that we have found a home in our collection.
Primary Source Documents
Explore our digital library of primary source documents that help chronicle over 150 years of Knight's Ferry History, This section of the website is currently under construction so some options may not be updated or available.