A wildfire in Tuolumne County destroyed much of the historic Gold Rush town of Chinese Camp, including its 1854 post office, one of the last surviving landmarks from the community’s early years. Founded in 1849 by thousands of Chinese miners seeking opportunity, the town played a central role in California’s Gold Rush history. While most original Chinese structures were lost long ago, the blaze further erased key remnants. The elementary school, built in the 1970s with a pagoda-style roof honoring Chinese heritage, survived the flames.

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