Site Information

Marker Plaque and Remains of the Big Oak

Description

First called Savage Diggins after the man who discovered gold here in 1949, the town was renamed Big Oak Flat about 1850 after the giant oak tree that stood in the center of town near this spot. The oak, which was about 13 feet in diameter, was undermined in 1869 and burned in 1890; only pieces remained in 1949. Rich placer and lode mines are reported to have yielded $28,000,000 during the town's heyday. Stone buildings erected in 1852 were still standing in 1949.

Remains of the big oak are displayed at the bottom of the plaque base.

Old buildings along side State Highway 120 as it passes through Big Oak Flat.

Map

Location and Vicinity Map

Detail Map

View larger map on OpenStreetMap or Google Maps