SANGER, CALIFORNIA
Welcome to the Sanger Depot Museum, where the rich history of Sanger, California comes to life from its boomtown beginnings to its growth into the city known as "the Nation's Christmas Tree City". Sanger is located about 10 miles east of Fresno in California's Central Valley and is right at the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range.
The Sanger Depot Museum is actually the Sanger Railroad Depot, once the hub of the town's growth. Built in 1887 the Sanger Railroad Depot sat beside the Southern Pacific Railroad that ran between Fresno and Porterville, California. Among the cargo that passed through this depot was grain, citrus and lots of lumber brought down from the mountains by Sanger's booming lumber operation. When Sanger's commerce no longer needed the Depot, it was discovered that the building was the oldest in Sanger. At that time, Jack Tanney and his brother who had purchased the Depot donated it to the Sanger Historical Society. The Museum was opened in December 1977.
Featured Displays of the Museum
Brehler Block:
- THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK
- POST OFFICE
- GENERAL MERCHANDISE STORE
- SANGER DUTCH BAKERY
- THE SANGER HERALD
This exhibit is a replica of Sanger's 7th Street circa the 1890's and 1900's. 7th Street was one of the early business blocks in Downtown Sanger. The businesses displayed in this exhibit include:
The Indian Room
Here, you can see the finest collection of Yokut Indian basketry in existence anywhere. This collection was donated by Mr. & Mrs. Oscar Brehler. Oscar Brehler was a pharmacist in Sanger who collected baskets given to him by Yokut Indians who would come into his store. These baskets served a variety of uses for the Yokut Indians and have some of the finest weaving and stitching with incredibly beautiful designs.
Click here to visit the Indian Room
The Pioneer Room
This room features photgraphs of some of the pioneer families of Sanger who are credited for contributing to the early growth of Sanger. These families include the Hazeltons, William and Eliza Deakins who represent the first of several generations of Sanger area residents and the Akers, credited with planting the first vineyard in the San Joaquin Valley.
The Victorian Home:
This exhibit is a replica of the home that stood on 521 I Street in Sanger. Built originally by the Frankenau family, this home has had a succession of owners until it was totally destroyed by a fire in 1991. This exhibit represents the typical Victorian style home built in the late 1800's.
The flume exhibit shows a model of the massive logging operation in the late 1800's and early 1900's that was made possible by a 62 mile long flume that ran down from the high elevations of the Sierras down to the railhead in Sanger. This flume was the largest of its kind in existence.
Click here to visit the Flume Exhibit
In the flume exhibit, you'll also find information about the giant redwood tree called General Grant. This massive redwood is 3,500 years old and is located in Kings Canyon National Park in the mountains above Sanger. It stands 267 feet high with a 33 foot diameter at the base. In 1926, this tree was dedicated as the "Nation's Christmas Tree".
Click here to visit the Nation's Christmas Tree
There's plenty to see and plenty to learn about Sanger, the Nation's Christmas Tree City. Come visit us !
Sanger Depot Museum
1700 7th St.
Sanger, CA 93657
P.O. Box 44
TIMES & ADMISSION
ADMISSION:
Adults: $1.00
Children: $.25
TIMES:
Friday 9:30 am to 12:30 pm
Sunday 1:00 to 4:00 pm
Tours for groups by special arrangement
For more details about the Sanger Depot Museum, call Bob Bosserman at:
TEL: (559)875-2848
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