Historical Society

Three Rivers California is located on the Kaweah River at the junction of its three or more tributaries. Before the mid-1850's the area was populated by the Yokut Indian Tribe who found the native oak trees, plants, fish, small animals, etc to be a veritable Eden for their survival. 1856 saw the first documented appearance of the white man into the area. His name was Hale Tharp and he settled on the river bottom, raising cattle and hogs. *Click on any picture below to view full size*
Museum Entrance	Main Exhibit Area	Inside Front Doors	Artist Resale Shop

Some photos from our Paul Bunyan Day - September 16, 2001 Click on any picture to view full size
By the 1870's many other farmers had come to the Three Rivers country and found it a secluded and ideal place to raise their domestic livestock. In addition, many orchards of fruit and citrus trees were planted and thrived in the area. Veins of silver ore In 1886, a group of 160 people came to the North Fork area of Three Rivers and established the Kaweah Colony, a utopian settlement, based on Socialist principles. Their goal was to obtain the land where the giant Redwoods grow. However, in time, their petitions were denied and the Redwood groves were saved from destruction. The trees are now mostly contained in the Sequoia National Park. With the creation of the Park in 1890, tourists and visitors to the area brought prosperity and more people wanting to live and make their homes here. In due course, schools were established, roads constructed and improved, bridges built across the rivers to carry the increased traffic. The uniqueness of Three Rivers has attracted many artists and people with unusual talents, perhaps due to the quiet and peaceful scenic surroundings. Businesses of many varieties have been established, many surviving and flourishing a long time. At the current time, Three Rivers is inhabited to a large degree by retired people, while the tourist trade continues to fuel the economy.			I