What to Do in Jacksonville – the Gold Rush Town of Oregon

Jacksonville is one of my favorite towns in Southern Oregon. Despite being just a tiny place, Jacksonville has a strange and captivating history. The town came into existence in the first half of the 19th century and it still preserves that old fashioned atmosphere.

A Brief History of Jacksonville

The gold frenzy was arguably one of the most significant events that shaped the history of the United States in the 19th century. As gold began luring people to the west coast, quiet settlements were turned into boomtowns.

Until 1851, Jacksonville (at the time known as Table Rock) was just an obscure town in Jackson County, Oregon. But that suddenly changed when gold nuggets were discovered in Jackson Creek. Almost overnight, the sleepy Jacksonville woke up to a sudden bustle and activity that totally change its faith.

Within a year more than 2,000 miners and settlers swarmed into the Rogue River Valley. A large number of Chinese people settled in Jacksonville at the time, making it the first “Chinatown” in Oregon. By the winter of 1852 Jacksonville was buzzing with saloons, gambling halls, shops and even a bank. 

The Rise and Fall of Jacksonville

But what do you do when a pound of gold is worth much less than a pound of flour? As it turns out, life was hard in the Wild West. Food was scarce and expensive. It had to be shipped by boat to San Francisco and from there by stagecoach to Table Rock (today’s Jacksonville).

Knowing that their gold was worth very little in Jacksonville, prospectors began storing it in the local bank until they were able to trade it in other states.

This is how Beekman Bank became the only bank in the country that actually charged its customers a storage fee instead of paying them interest.

For decades Jacksonville, which had become the county seat, was a thriving commercial and cultural center in Southern Oregon. But after a wild start the town’s prestige started to fade away when the transatlantic railroad was routed through the neighboring town of Medford.

People started to move out of the area in search of other businesses. The old saloons and gambling rooms that once thrived with customers, were now deserted. And so, the noisy and bustling Jacksonville began to quiet down.

Things to Do in Jacksonville Today

Today the streets of Jacksonville are no longer crowded with miners dressed in overalls or women wearing crinolines. Yet the laid back atmosphere of those days still remains. So what can you do in Jacksonville?

Stroll Through the Historic District

One of the nicest things to do in Jacksonville is stroll down its Main Street, where the 19th century charm has been perfectly preserved. The brick buildings you see today are the same ones among which people walked 160 years ago. But the quiet atmosphere of the town is nothing like it was in the old days, when thousands of miners and settlers swarmed its streets.

Take a Trolley Ride

As you take a trolley ride into the historic Jacksonville, glance at the former City Hall, or the Courthouse, or the Beekman Bank.

The ride will take you back in time to an era when families lived in gingerbread houses and streets were paved with wood.

Visit Jacksonville Museum 

If you want to discover more about the town’s history and heritage, you should visit at the Jacksonville Museum. Currently, there is an effort to revitalize the museum experience. The city is planning to utilize the old city hall building as a “Museum without Walls,” which will incorporate the town’s National Historic Landmark District. 

Go Shopping

Jacksonville’s Main Street is lined with boutiques and unique shops that are a pleasure to browse, even if you don’t want to buy anything. But I warn you that they are hard to resist!

Experience Fine Dining

Jacksonville has some highly-regarded restaurants, including some that could be considered first class. The Jacksonville Inn and its associated restaurant are consistently mentioned for their fine dining and elegant atmosphere. C St Bistro is another popular choice, known for its locally sourced ingredients and gourmet dishes. Additionally, Gogi’s Restaurant is often cited as a must-try for a high-end dining experience. 

A Final Word

In 1966, Jacksonville was designated a National Historic Landmark. Gold may be a far-away memory in Jacksonville today, but after all it was the gold that made this place famous in the 1850s

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