Name of Plaque Iron Door Saloon
Location of Plaque, Highway / Road No., City and County 18761 Main Street, Groveland, Tuolumne County
Explain the Design of the Plaque and Base Black granite plaque mounted on outside front granite wall
Date of Dedication August 14, 1999
Name of Dedicating Humbug NGH Mike Carbonaro, E Clampus Vitus – Matuca Chapter 1849
Exact Wording of Plaque
Iron Door Saloon
THIS BUILDING IS THE OLDEST LIQUOR SERVING ESTABLISHMENT IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. IT BEGAN LIFE IN 1852 AS “THE GRANITE STORE” BUILT BY PETER KING. IT
OPERATED AS A GENERAL MERCANTILE WITH, OF COURSE, THE OBLIGATORY “PLANK OVER
FLOUR BARRELS” SERVING LIQUOR TO THIRSTY MINERS. IN THE 1860’S POSTMASTER JIM
TANNAHILL BOUGHT THE STORE WHICH ALSO FUNCTIONED AS THE TOWN’S POST OFFICE FOR
ALMOST 25 YEARS. IN 1896 GIACOMO DE FERRARI TURNED THE BUILDING INTO A FULL
FLEDGED SALOON. IT BECAME NAMED ‘THE IRON DOOR SALOON” IN 1937. SINCE 1985, IT
HAS BEEN OWNED BY PETER AND BETTIKE BARSOTTI.
DEDICATED BY MATUCA CHAPTER 1849 E CLAMPUS AUGUST 14, 1999 -6004-
CREDO QUIA ABSURDUM