History Happened Here — Right Where You’re Standing!

Exploring California’s Historic Landmarks: Northern California Edition is your guidebook to the stories, places, and people that shaped the northern reaches of the Golden State. This volume features 365 state-registered landmarks across 28 counties, from Gold Rush settlements and towering redwood forests to fertile valleys, rugged Sierra passes, and the vineyards of Napa and Sonoma.

Designed for travelers, history buffs, educators, and explorers, this book offers detailed write-ups, official plaque texts, and GPS coordinates to help you find and understand each landmark — whether it’s at the end of a mountain trail or hidden in plain sight downtown.

Organized by county, this guide enables you to explore Northern California’s past, including Native heritage, transportation, military history, architecture, and more. Whether you’re planning a road trip, chasing down a specific site, or curious about what happened just beyond the next curve in the road, it’s all in here.

With a deep love for California’s landscapes and layered past, author Shawn E. Bell invites you to rediscover Northern California — one landmark at a time.