Groveland Yosemite Gateway Museum

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The Yosemite Gateway Museum is a focal point for all those interested in the unique history of southern Tuolumne County. Its opening in 2001 was the culmination of 13 years’ hard work by local STCHS volunteers dedicated to the preservation of the history of the lives and possessions of the people who lived in the area. 

The STCHS Museum is located on the main transit highway (CA 120) in Groveland. STCHS shares its 3,000 sq ft building with the Groveland branch of the Tuolumne County Public Library. It spans 3 floors and comprises a principal exhibit space, as well as a museum workshop and archives to receive and care for local artifacts. Parking is conveniently located beside the building.

Staffed entirely by volunteers, the Museum is open to visitors from all over the world, all year long. Over 4,000 people from 37 countries visited the Museum in 2019 

Exhibits occupy the Museum's primary space, covering local information about families, occupations, artifacts, and natural history. In some cases, artifacts in featured displays are presented while on loan from local families. Also in the Museum is a small theater with a broad choice of DVDs on local and natural history topics.

In addition to items on display in Museum exhibits, STCHS also maintains substantial archives of other items that can be researched or accessed. These include roughly 1000 vintage photographs as well as other artifacts of local significance.

Outdoor Displays present history and natural history exhibits on Museum grounds for the education and enjoyment of visitors while walking outdoors. Several aspects of gold mining can be seen, as well as local geology.

Motherlode Museums are open to the public for more historical enjoyment and learning. The STCHS Museum participates in the Historical Museum Alliance (HMA) of 15 small institutions throughout the Central Valley and Sierra foothills. The alliance website is the “Gateway to the Motherlode.”.