Stockton... A Critical Part of California's Heritage

Downtown Stockton has a colorful and vibrant history since its early days as a supply center and “jumping off point” for the California Gold Rush. Two new books released from Arcadia Publishing, celebrate the faces and places that shaped today’s Stockton.  “Downtown Stockton” and “Stockton In Vintage Postcards” Both books are are available for $19.99 at area bookstores, Arcadia Publishing or in the offices of The Downtown Stockton Alliance.

Postcards From The Past

A regular feature of The Downtowner, “Postcards From The Past” provides historical background from local historian, Alice van Ommeren, and postcards from her vast collection.

• The Spirit of Stockton’s Chinatown
• Hunter Square:  The Heart of Stockton
• Remembering Main Street
• Cunningham Castle

Downtown Walking Tours

The Alliance offers a self-guided Historical Walking Tour of Downtown Stockton, free of charge.  The tour begins at the Alliance offices and consists of a downtown “loop”, which can easily be cut in half for a shorter route.  Other walking tours of downtown, including Hidden Public Art and Maintenance Hole Cover Public Art Project, are also available in the offices of the Downtown Stockton Alliance, located at 343 E. Main Street, First Floor, Stockton, CA 95202 (corner of San Joaquin and Main Streets). With advance notice, the Alliance will arrange for a staff-guided tour of downtown for your school, organization or group.  To schedule a staff-guided tour of the Friday Farmer’s Market, Historical Downtown Stockton, or Hidden Public Art, contact Manuel Laguna at the Downtown Stockton Alliance, (209) 464-5246 or mlaguna@downtownstockton.org.