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Woodland is the county seat of Yolo County in the northern Sacramento Valley, about 20 miles northwest of Sacramento and just north of Davis. Settled in the 1850s among groves of valley oaks, the town took its name from those woods and incorporated in 1871. Rich farmland made it one of the wealthiest towns in the valley, and the money from wheat, rice and later tomatoes built an impressive downtown of brick commercial blocks, Victorian mansions and civic landmarks.
Today Woodland is a city of around 60,000 people that still serves a vast farming region, with fields of tomatoes, sunflowers and rice spreading out from its edges. Its downtown along Main Street keeps an exceptional collection of historic buildings, among them the 1928 Hotel Woodland, the 1917 Yolo County Courthouse and one of the oldest Carnegie libraries still in use in California, along with restaurants, coffee houses and antique shops.
The crown jewel is the Woodland Opera House, built in 1896 and now a state historic park, where audiences still watch musicals and concerts beneath its old balconies. Nearby, the Gibson House museum tells the county's story in a historic mansion, and each August the Yolo County Fair brings rides, livestock and music to the fairgrounds. Woodland also makes an easy base for exploring Davis, Sacramento and the wineries of the Capay Valley.
The Woodland Opera House is a restored 1896 theater and a state historic park, one of the few surviving opera houses of its era in California. It hosts musicals, plays, concerts and youth shows in a classic hall with a horseshoe balcony. Check the season schedule, and tours of the building are sometimes offered.
Historic Downtown Woodland centers on Main Street, lined with brick and stone buildings from the late 1800s and early 1900s. They hold local restaurants, cafes, antique stores and shops. A walking tour map shows the historic buildings, and street parking is free along most of the downtown blocks.
Hotel Woodland is a large Spanish Colonial Revival building on Main Street that opened in 1928 as the town's grand hotel. It now holds apartments and ground floor businesses, and its arched front and tower remain a downtown landmark. View it from the street while walking the historic district.
The Yolo County Courthouse is a Neoclassical courthouse completed in 1917, with tall columns and a grand stair facing Court Street in downtown Woodland. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is now used for county services. It is best admired from outside, and photos are best in morning light.
The Woodland Public Library opened in 1905 with funding from Andrew Carnegie and is one of the oldest Carnegie libraries in California still used as a library. Its Mission Revival building has a historic reading room. Visitors can walk in during open hours, and the staff can point out its historic details.
The Gibson House is home to the Yolo County Historical Museum, set in a 19th century farmhouse with gardens and outbuildings on Gibson Road. Rooms are furnished in period style, and exhibits cover pioneer and farm life in Yolo County. It is open on limited days, so check hours before you visit.
The Heidrick Ag History Center in Woodland holds a large collection of historic tractors, combines, trucks and farm machines that tell the story of agriculture in California. Exhibits show how farming changed from horse power to modern machines. Check current hours and events, as access varies through the year.
The Yolo County Fair is held each August at the fairgrounds in Woodland and is known for having free admission, a rare thing for county fairs. It offers livestock shows, carnival rides, concerts and fair food. Ride tickets cost extra, and evenings are cooler and more pleasant than hot afternoons.
Stroll Through History is an annual walking event in Woodland, usually held in September, when owners of historic homes and buildings open them to visitors and docents share stories of the town's past. Tours focus on Victorian and early 1900s architecture. Wear comfortable shoes and buy tickets ahead.
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California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
Photo: User:Bluewing405, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Epolk, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Epolk, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Epolk, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Epolk, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Epolk, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
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Photo: Epolk, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
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Photo: Bluewing405, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
