Historic Jacksonville Oregon Tours – Unique Walking Tour in Gold Rush Town
Jacksonville is many things: a registered National Historic Place, wine tasting destination, fine dining, boutique shops, and world famous Britt Festival music venue. Why not do it all?
Often called a ‘gold rush town under a bell-jar’, Jacksonville is one of the few Wild Western towns in a state of perfect preservation. One can stroll right through history, enjoy a glass of wine or beer and have a world class meal, au plein aire!
Hosted by a real local historian, our three and a half hour tour, will transport you with stories of Striking it Rich, Train Robberies, Backyard Gold Mining, Celebrities whov’e made J’ville their home, and of course award winning Wine and Beer!
Learn about Victorian culture and architecture, visit quaint museums, unique shops and great dining-three of the past five U. S. Presidents ate at the five-star Jacksonville Inn. Sip great hand-crafted wines, chat with artisan coffee roasters, and ride an open-air trolley. Our guided tours leaves daily and can include lunch!
We will pick you up from your lodgings and whisk you away on an enlightening journey through our most cherished local gem of history and culture!
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Situated in the Heart of the Oregon Western Territory just off I-5 (twenty minutes from Medford or Ashland )
Upon Oregon statehood in 1859, Jacksonville had become the wealthiest and most populous town in the whole state. Jacksonville today looks much like it did back then. With Victorian charm, original brick store fronts and saloon-style shops that make you feel like you are traveling back in time!
- Experience some of Southern Oregon’s award-winning wines and cheeses.
- Tours last 3.5 hours and include interpretation by a professional guide, transportation, museum entry, historic cemetery tour and wine tasting or a home-made ice cream parlor treat! We leave daily at 9:00 am or 1:00 pm
- Cost: $115/ guest, please book at least 24-48 hours in advance… add lunch for just $15 more.
- Upgrade to a Winery Walk and we will visit world class tasting rooms and your wine flights are included!
Because of its old west appeal, Hollywood has chosen Jacksonville several times as a location to film westerns. Big Hollywood names like Cliff Robertson and Robert Duvall starred in the Great Northfield Minnesota Raid; Kirk Douglas and many others have used the historic city of Jacksonville as a backdrop for their feature films.
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In 1852, Peter Britt (1819-1905) arrived in the small, rowdy mining camp of Jacksonville with $5 in his pocket and a wagon full of photography equipment. Like thousands before him, the Swiss immigrant came to America, and to the West, to make a new life for himself.
By the time he died, half a century later, Britt was one of Oregon’s most celebrated and well-to-do citizens . Through thousands of photographs, he chronicled 50 years of life and growth in Southern Oregon. Miners, farmers, ranchers, builders, bankers, merchants, clergymen and families and the Chinese workers were all captured by Britt’s lens.
But Britt’s camera represents only one aspect of his contribution to Oregon history. A fervent believer in the agricultural promise of the Rogue Valley, Britt planted the first fruit trees in the region and opened Oregon’s first winery. At various times he was a miner, packer, financier, beekeeper and meteorologist.
Evidence of Peter Britt’s remarkable life is still visible on the Britt hill where his home and gardens once stood. It is now a County Park preserved with many of Britt’s original trees still producing fruit, and the Sequoia sapling Britt planted on the day his first child was born in 1862 standing more than 200 feet tall.
Today the former Britt Estate hosts the world-class open air Britt Music Festival that offer entertainment from June-September, under-the stars, featuring the best in Jazz to Classical – Rock to Country Venues as exciting as larger metro regions offer.
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Main Street Tours Terms and Conditions
Daily tours are designed to accommodate a minimum of 2 or more persons. We also make arrangements for larger group tours — ask about our larger group discounts.
Our tour guides are professional hosts and educators, and our transport vehicles are custom, air-conditioned vans, Town Cars, or in some cases, buses.
We request that a hold deposit for a date is secured in advance and that all tours be paid in full by the tour departure date.
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