Area is filled with history, museums

From a museum celebrating gambling in the Delta to a children’s museum in Stockton to Lodi’s own Hill House museum, opportunities to enjoy the area’s diverse history and culture are abundant. Here’s a listing:

Hill House Museum, Lodi. The former home of George Washington Hill, Lodi’s first jeweler, the museum is operated by volunteers and includes numerous artifacts reflecting the Hill family and the early days of Lodi. 826 Church St. Phone: 369-6073.

San Joaquin County Historical Museum, Lodi. Located just south of Lodi in Micke Grove Park, a pleasant, tree-dappled expanse, the museum includes antique tools and vintage farm machinery and exhibits on early inhabitants, including trapper and Indians. The museum also includes a Sunshine Trail designed for the vison-impaired. 11793 N. Micke Road. Phone: 331-2055.

Rae House Museum, Galt. Built in 1868 by rancher John Rae, the house was rescued from demoliton by community members and eventually renovated. The house includes vintage items, including a baby buggy and spinning wheel. 204 Oak Ave. 745-1517

Haggin Museum, Stockton. The Haggin’s substantial holdings including artwork, Indian crafts and industrial and agricultural equipment. 1201 N. Pershing Ave. 940-6300. www.hagginmuseum.org.

Children’s Museum of Stockton. The museum offers numerous interactive exhibits for children. A fire truck, police car and helicopter are also on display. 402 W. Weber Ave. 465-4386.

Dai Loy Gambling House, Locke. A former gambling hall, the museum offers glimpes into the Chinese culture and is operated by the Sacramento River Delta Historical Society. Locke is the last free-standing Chinese community in America. Main Street, Locke. 916-776-1661

The Rio Vista Museum, Rio Vista. The museum, which once served as a blacksmith shop, includes publications and artifacts relating to Rio Vista. 16 North Front Street. 707-374-5169.

Dutra Museum of Dredging, Rio Vista. A unique collection on the history of dredging in the Delta that includes photographs, logbooks, ledgers and dredge models. 345 St. Gertrude Street. 707-374-6339.

Amador County Museum, Jackson. A scale model of the Kennedy Mine is among the exhibits. 225 Church St. 223-6386.

Amador Whitney Museum, Amador City. Exhibits highlight the contributions of women in the Moder Lode. Main Street, Amador City. 267-0928

Chew Kee Store, Fiddletown. A former herb emporium made during the Gold Rush with rammed-earth construction, the store is maintained by the Fiddletown Preservation Society. 245-3530 or 245-6459.

Angels Camp Museum, Angels Camp. A variety of materials relating to local history and the Gold rush. 753 S. Main St. 736-2963

Calaveras County Museum and Archives, San Andreas. The museum includes local historical artifacts and the jail that once held Black Bart. 30 N. Main St. 754-4658.

Murphys Old Timers Museum, Murphys. Items relating to Gold Rush history in Murphys and surrounding areas. North wall is the E. Clampus Vitus Wall of Comparative Ovations. Main Street. 728-1160

Index of advertisers