'OLDEST CITY BETWEEN LOS ANGELES AND FRENCH CAMP'
Visalia, California is the oldest Central Valley city, incorporated in 1852, with visible reminders of its wild west past and unusual stories to tell. Explore our wild west beginnings when you visit these locations. Stop along the way to have a bite to eat or a drink in a sidewalk saloon and imagine what life was like along Main Street in the 1800s .
VISALIA STOCK SADDLE
See an original Visalia Stock Saddle made in 1885 by David E Walker, including spurs, bridal, and leather working tools on display in the Visit Visalia office. The site of Visalia Stock Saddle Company is noted with a plaque on the wall just outside of Brewbakers Brewing Company, just a short walk from our office.
To see more artifacts and learn about how this saddle became known around the world, visit the Tulare County Museum.
Insider Tip: Have a bite to eat at Brewbakers while contemplating life on Main Street in 1800s. They also have an original Visalia Stock Saddle on display.
HORSE RINGS
The self-guided "Visalia Then and Now: A Look at Early Visalia" walking tour shows Visalia's historic past. Look carefully at the original granite curbing around downtown to see the reminders of days when a horse was your Uber driver. See if you can locate all 12 rings. (If you need a hint, we have a map available.)
VISALIA JAIL HOUSE
The original jail was built in 1890 and Visalia was proud of the beautiful building. However, more attention was paid to how it looked rather than how it worked. Train robber Gratton Dalton was jailed here, though not for long. He and 2 other inmates broke out just a year after the jail was built. In 1916, it was torn down and new jail built, using the existing walls and basement. It still stands today though not used as a jail.
VISALIA CEMETERY
See grave sites from the mid-1850s for Mary Graves Clark, survivor of the ill-fated Donner Party or Edmond E Wysinger, a former slave born in 1816 whose quest to enroll his son in school went all the way to the Supreme Court.
TULARE COUNTY MUSEUM
The museum houses many interesting and historical items. Along with buildings from the 1800s like Surprise School House, there are artifacts from the Pioneer era as well as other notable items.
NATIVE AMERICAN BASKETRY
See one of the largest woven basket collections in California on display and other Native American artifacts.
Insider Tip: For a modern 'cowboy' experience, have breakfast or lunch at Mama K's Cafe. The cafe is located at the Stockyards on Ben Maddox Street where cattle auctions happen every Wednesday morning. Sit in the grandstand and watch as cattle are bought and sold. Be careful though! While it is free to watch the auction, raising your hand at the wrong moment might make you the proud owner of a steer!
