Legend's Books, Antiques and Old Fashioned Soda Fountain is located in one of the oldest standing buildings in Sonora. Originally home to the Bank of Italy (which would later evolve into Bank of America), it was uniquely accessible via underground tunnels which offered their gold-transporting customers safety from the gold-rush era riff raff on the streets above. Nowadays it's a treasure trove of history for every member of the family: An authentic old-fashioned Soda Fountain with a menu of coffee, ice cream and lunch items where visitors dine among antiques and are invited to explore underground tunnels lined with books and interesting pieces of a Gold Rush past.
Parking and public transportation at Legend's Books, Antiques and Old Fashioned Soda Fountain
Local transportation is available via bus through Tuolumne County Transit which stops downtown. If driving, curbside parking can be hard to find along busy Washington Street. Luckily there is a free parking lot one block over on South Stewart that is intended for use by visitors of the downtown businesses. Legend's has a rear entrance that opens to South Stewart Street, making the parking lot easily accessible.
Best and worst time to go to Legend's Books, Antiques and Old Fashioned Soda Fountain
The posted hours are Thursday through Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed on Wednesdays). Weekends tend to be busiest, especially on holiday weekends or when there is an event downtown. If bringing a large group, it's always a good idea to call ahead and check availability first.
Admission to Legend's Books, Antiques and Old Fashioned Soda Fountain
Legend's in an active business that functions as an old fashioned soda fountain, ice cream parlor, coffee shop, restaurant, antique store and used book shop. Consequently, there is absolutely no admission fee but it's an excellent idea to bring a little spending money. There is always someone behind the counter happy to share information about the area and the location too, so it's always fun to pull up a stool and order a scoop of ice cream or a cup of Joe to enjoy while chatting.
Must see/do at Legend's Books, Antiques and Old Fashioned Soda Fountain
With all of the incredible architectural details and unique atmosphere that immediately greets visitors as they walk through the door, it's easy to forget that there is a second level to Legend's. The real adventure happens downstairs though, where a wood staircase takes visitors from the high tin-tiled ceilings of the soda fountain into a narrow underground tunnel with low head clearance, walls lined with used books and the gentle sound of trickling water. These tunnels were once accessed by gold miners and locals who wanted to avoid robberies when gold and money was transported to the bank above. Aside from the tunnels themselves, the only remaining clues of the building's banking past can be found in an old-fashioned vault door (the vault itself is now used as a storage room) and an exposed trickle of water incorporated into a display showing visitors what the inside of an authentic gold mine looks like. Bring your camera to snap a few pictures and (for a useful souvenir) buy one of the affordable used books while you're down there.
Other places to visit near Legend's Books, Antiques and Old Fashioned Soda Fountain
Once you've seen where the gold was brought for safe keeping, take a short drive to Columbia State Historic Park to experience the gold panning process itself. Not only is gold panning offered for a very reasonable fee but visitors at Columbia State Historic Park also get to walk the dirt streets of an actual, fully preserved, active Gold Rush town. From the handmade candy store to the horse-drawn stagecoach rides and staff in era clothing, no detail has been missed. It's worth the trip just to make and take home a hand-dipped candle or dress up for an old fashioned photograph.
Insider tip for visitors to Legend's Books, Antiques and Old Fashioned Soda Fountain
After moseying up to the bar and ordering yourself a sarsaparilla float, make sure to ask the person behind the counter about the history of the bar itself. The gorgeous carved wood bar backdrop was originally imported to the east coast from Italy in the mid 1800s, escaped the Great Chicago Fire and even spent some time in San Francisco (where it survived the Great San Francisco Earthquake of 1906) before it found its home in Sonora. It's the perfect ending to a great adventure: It was lovingly restored by the current owners and now serves as the focal point in a magnificent room full of history and antiques where ice cream is served to travelers, explorers and gold hunters from all over the world.
Author's bio: Ann Milligan is a wife, mom, author and artist who resides in California's beautiful Gold Country. She can often be found painting wildflowers, dancing with her kids, and nom-nom-noming on ice cream.
