Name of Plaque Mormon Bar
Location of Plaque, Highway / Road No., City and County Highway 49 at Fairgrounds Road in Mariposa County
Explain the Design of the Plaque and Base Black granite plaque on monument made of Mariposite rocks
Date of Dedication June 21, 2003
Name of Dedicating Humbug NGH Dennis Akin, E Clampus Vitus – Matuca Chapter 1849
Exact Wording of Plaque
Mormon Bar
In 1849 a group of Mormons established a tent encampment near here, while
searching for land to farm. After an influx of gold miners in 1849 the Mormons
moved on. Next, came thousands of Chinese miners, merchants and farmers. Mormon
Bar became the largest Chinese community in Mariposa County boasting a hotel,
blacksmith shop, stores and gambling dens. Mormon Bar 1860 election returns
reported the Secession candidates defeated the Union candidates 21 to 17. In
1863 the Mariposa Gazette reported the burglary of a Chinese owned store, during
which $250 of goods, including a case of opium and gold watch were stolen. In
1864 President Abraham Lincoln received 11 votes in the Mormon Bar precinct.
Mormon Bar was an important stagecoach stop for travelers to and from Yosemite.
Granite used in building the Mariposa jail was quarried near here.
Archaeological evidence shows, that Native Americans lived in the area, long
before the Mormons arrived. DEDICATED BY MATUCA CHAPTER 1849 E CLAMPUS VITUS
June 21, 2003 -6008- CREDO QUIA ABSURDUM