California Historical Landmark No. 331

California Historical Landmark No. 331 marks a stretch of Bear Valley in Mariposa County where Colonel John C. Frémont once kept his headquarters. There's no visitor center or admission booth here — just a state historical marker along the roadside and a handful of old stone and wood structures that have stood, in various states of repair, for well over a century. Visitors rate it 4.6 out of 5 across 23 reviews, and most come away struck by the quiet setting and the sense of stumbling onto real California history rather than a staged exhibit.

What You'll See

The landmark itself is a roadside sign, but the surrounding property holds several original buildings in various stages of decay — stonework, weathered timber, and at least one structure reviewers date to the 1800s. It's an informal, self-guided stop: no ticket window, no docent, just old walls left largely as they are.

Before You Stop

• No guided tours or staffed exhibits — this is a look-but-don't-expect-a-museum kind of stop.
• Structures are aging — several reviewers note the buildings are deteriorating and may not survive many more years without restoration, so don't wait too long if you want to see them intact.
• Open 24 hours — as an outdoor roadside site, it's accessible any time.
• Part of a bigger trail — reviewers point to other historic markers and points of interest scattered through Bear Valley and Mariposa County worth combining with this stop.