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Guide to the Woodland Opera House State Historic Park Collection
CSPA-327
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Table of contents
Title: Woodland Opera House State Historic Park Collection
Date (inclusive): 1870-2010
Date (bulk): (bulk dates 1960-1986)
Collection number: CSPA-327
Creator:
Woodland Opera House State Historic Park
Extent:
1 linear foot, including 1 map folder.
Repository:
California State Parks
McClellan, California 95652
Abstract:
Woodland Opera House State Historic Park, situated in Yolo County, is located in downtown Woodland. Woodland Opera House became
a State Historic Park in 1980 in order to restore the building. Reopened to the public in 1989, the Opera House continues
theatrical productions. The Woodland Opera House State Historic Park collection is arranged in ten series: 1. Correspondence,
2. Legal Documents, 3. Financial Documents, 4. Histories, 5. Research Notes, 6. Ephemera, 7. Photographic Material, 8. Publications,
9. Cartographic Material, and 10. Reports. Items span the years 1870-2010 with the bulk of the material between 1960-1986.
Physical Location: California State Parks Archives
Languages: Languages represented in this collection:
English
The collection is open for research. Cultural and archaeological site maps are restricted. Reports with sensitive data may
be restricted. Consult repository for details.
For permission to reproduce or publish, please consult the California State Parks Archives archivist. Permission for reproduction
or publication is given on behalf of
the California State Parks Archives, McClellan as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility
for possible infringement that may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the California State Parks Archives.
[Identification of item], Woodland Opera House State Historic Park Collection, CSPA-327: [box: folder number], California
State Parks Archives, McClellan, California.
Woodland Opera House State Historic Park donated the materials in the collection in 2002.
Deborah Hebert Lee processed this collection and created and encoded its finding aid in 2015.
Woodland Opera House State Historic Park, situated in Yolo County, is located in downtown historic Woodland. The opera house,
built in the late Victorian Era, still maintains its primary function.
The Native American group Poo-e-win, a part of the Hill Patwin, occupied the area before the influx of Europeans and Chinese
population during the nineteenth century. The Poo-e-win population rapidly decreased with the arrival of Spanish Missionaries,
and by the mid nineteenth century few remained in the area.
Originally named Yolo City, Woodland became established in 1861 and incorporated in 1871. The later name derived from the
local oak trees. Because of the city’s location in the fertile Sacramento Valley, agriculture and subsequently the railroad
were major contributors to local development.
A San Francisco architect named Thomas Welsh designed the original 1885 opera house. Seven years later, a fire destroyed the
building along with other parts of the downtown area. David Hershey, a locally prominent figure, acquired the land. Hershey
and several other local citizens helped to rebuild the opera house. The new building opened in 1896.
Due to the growing popularity of motion pictures and a lawsuit brought against the Opera House, the facility closed in 1913.
In 1971 the Yolo County Historical Society bought the building to protect it from urban renewal. California State Parks took
over ownership in 1980, and restoration began. Architect Gary Wirth and Brocchini and Associates helped to restore the building.
Federal and state grants along with local donations funded the restoration. The Opera House reopened to the public in 1989.
The Woodland Opera House, also known as the Hershey Opera House, is located at 340 Second Street. The two-story brick building
is listed on the California State Historic Landmark #851, and the National Register of Historic Places # 71000212. Areas of
significance include: architecture, music, social/humanitarian and theater.
Although the opera house is owned by the State of California, the Opera House Board of Trustees maintains the building. True
to its original purpose, the opera house still performs theatrical productions, and is also involved in school outreach programs.
The Woodland Opera House State Historic Park Collection is arranged in ten series: 1. Correspondence, 2. Legal Documents,
3. Financial Documents, 4. Histories, 5. Research Notes, 6. Ephemera, 7. Photographic Material, 8. Publications, 9. Cartographic
Material, and 10. Reports. Items span the years 1870-2010 with the bulk of the material between 1960-1986.
Series one, Correspondence, consists of general correspondence and memorandum between Opera House supporters, the local historical
society, and state government officials prior to and after the establishment of the park. Series two, Legal Documents, contains
correspondence and memorandum related to the acquisition, restoration, operation of the park. It also contains copies of a
lease agreement and a probate record.
Series three, Financial Documents, consists of an expense account document. Series four, Histories, contains background information
about the land, inhabitants, and the building. Series five, Research Notes, contains research information related to the history
of the site, and includes a copy of the 1870 Census, Cache Creek Township.
Series six, Ephemera, consists of a conference flyer, a brochure and a pamphlet. Series seven, Photographic Material, consists
of 35 mm black and white negatives, 4 x 5 black and white negatives, 4 x 5 black and white photographs, and an 8 x 10 black
and white photograph. Series eight, Publications, contains a historical booklet, newspaper clippings, and journal articles.
Series nine, Cartographic Material, contains maps of the topography and geography of the park. Series ten, Reports, includes
reports by state and national government agencies and an architectural firm.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Architecture.
California. Department of Parks and Recreation
Chinese.
Hershey, David N., 1818-
National Register of Historic Places.
Native Americans
Opium.
Theater.
Woodland Opera House Site (Woodland, Calif.)
Woodland Opera House (Woodland, Calif.)
Yolo County (Calif.)
Yolo County Historical Society