A Jacksonville Guided Historic Tour will take you back to the wild west era

for a time when ladies were ladies and men were...well, looking to marry those ladies and share Gold Fever and new riches with them. Nearly 150 year later the same historic feel, culture and architecture is here in this charming Southern Oregon town with quaint museums, unique shops, great dining ( three of the past five U. S. Presidents ate at the Jacksonville Inn). Victorian homes abound, great hand-crafted wines, gelato, coffee roasters, and an open-air trolley that makes the historical points of interest daily. One of our most popular guided tours leaves daily!

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Situated in the Heart of the Oregon Western Territory the words, “There’s gold in them thar hills!” were heard, and in 1851, just a few years after the 1849 San Francisco Gold Rush, thousands (including their Chinese workforce) flocked to the Southern Oregon town of Jacksonville.

Upon Oregon statehood in 1859, the town became the wealthiest and most populous in the whole state. Jacksonville today looks much like it did back then. With Victorian charm, original brick store fronts and saloon-style shops that make you feel like you are traveling back in time! ___________________________________________________________________________________

• Historic Jacksonville is just 30 minutes from Ashland. En route you may even get to experience some of Southern Oregon's award-winning wines and cheeses.
• Tours last 3.5 hours and include a narrative by a professional guide, transportation, museum entry, and winery admission. We leave daily at 11:00 am or 1:00 pm
• Cost: $79 (Per person, please book at least 24-48 hours in advance.)

Because of its old west appeal, Hollywood has chosen this location several times to film westerns. Big Hollywood names like Clif Roberts and Robert Duvall starred in the Great Northfield Minnesota Raid; Kirk Douglas and many others have used the historic city of Jacksonville as a backdrop for their feature films.

The shopping in Jacksonville is some of the best in Oregon! Tour guests will also have the opportunity to visit the Southern Oregon Historical Museum's 'Working' Hanley Farm, where most tilling and milling of grains is 'live horse power'.

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The Man Behind the Name

In 1852, Peter Britt (1819-1905) arrived in the small, rowdy mining camp of Jacksonville with $5 in his pocket and a wagon full of photography equipment. Like thousands before him, the Swiss immigrant came to America, and to the West, to make a new life for himself.

By the time he died, half a century later, Britt was one of Oregon's most celebrated citizens. Through thousands of photographs, he chronicled 50 years of life and growth in Southern Oregon. Miners, farmers, ranchers, builders, bankers, merchants, clergymen and families were all captured by Britt's lens.

From Jacksonville's inauspicious beginnings in the 1850s to Southern Oregon's agricultural prominence at the turn of the century, Britt's images tell the stories of those who settled and transformed our region.

But Britt's camera represents only one aspect of his contribution to Oregon history. A fervent believer in the agricultural promise of the Rogue Valley, Britt planted the first fruit trees in the region and opened Oregon's first winery. At various times he was a miner, packer, financier, beekeeper and meteorologist.

Evidence of Peter Britt's remarkable life is still visible on the Britt hill where his home and gardens once stood. It is now a County Park preserved with many of Britt's original trees still producing fruit, and the Sequoia sapling Britt planted on the day his first child was born in 1862 standing more than 200 feet tall.

Today the former Britt Estate hosts the world-class open air Britt Music Festivals that offer entertainment from June-September, under-the stars, featuring the best in Jazz to Classical - Rock to Country Venues as exciting as larger metro regions offer.

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