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AHistory
History · Dunsmuir

Dunsmuir’s post office opened in 1887, and 39% of its homes were built before 1940

More historic than 86% of U.S. towns. What drives it

1 place in town is on the National Register, among them a historic district with 32 buildings. Below: 21 old photos and papers, maps from 1892 on, and the census since 1910.

1887first post office
1on the National Register
39%homes built before 1940
21old photos & papers
6famous people
Add an old photoShare a memory
From Dunsmuir’s archive · credits on each photo
Quick answers

How Dunsmuir began

When was Dunsmuir founded?

1887

The Dunsmuir post office opened in 1887, the earliest record of the town by name.

First census: 1,719 in 19102020 census: 1,707139 years

How historic is Dunsmuir?

A

More historic than 86% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.

What drives the grade ↓
Founding year: the first Dunsmuir post office (Blevins & Helbock, CC0).The full story ↓
History grade

What drives Dunsmuir’s History grade

On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Dunsmuir is more historic than 86% of U.S. towns. Its share of homes from before 1940 holds the grade up; its age pulls it down.

A
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Dunsmuir’s overall grade.
Founding era1887, from the first post office: founded 1850–1899, an older era than 37% of U.S. townsC+Homes built before 194039.2% of homes (±7.5) · typical CA town 3.4% · U.S. 8.4%ANational Register1 listing, 32 historic buildings, 227 per 10,000 residents · typical CA town 0.0 · U.S. 2.4A
All U.S. towns we grade (21,289)Ahead of 86%
NewerOlder

Few California towns list much on the Register (a typical California town has 0.0 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Dunsmuir’s 227 sits above most of its state (99% of California towns have fewer) while its 32 historic buildings outnumber those of 82% of U.S. towns.

How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from B+ to A+. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±7.5 points). The founding year is the first post office, not a stated founding date.

Founding year: the first post office (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →

What stands out about Dunsmuir’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A town in postcards21 old photos, postcards and papers, 1892–1950.A historic districtThe Dunsmuir Historic Commercial District takes in 32 historic buildings.Boom and bustPeaked at 2,873 in 1960; 1,707 people lived here in 2020.Mapped building by building4 fire insurance maps, 1892 to 1920, drew every building in Dunsmuir.
★ What stands out · By decade

Dunsmuir, decade by decade

6 decades in the archive, from the 1890s to the 1950s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.

1890s–1900s9 items
Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Dunsmuir, Siskiyou County, California. LOC sanborn00511 0011892Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Dunsmuir, Siskiyou Co…MapMossbrae Falls, California1899Mossbrae Falls, California"A man who is worth his salt will work" - President Roosevelt at Dunsmuir, Cal1903"A man who is worth his salt will work" - President R…FMIB 40918 Sacramento River at1904FMIB 40918 Sacramento River atThe charming Mossbrae Falls near Shasta Springs, northern California, U.S.A1905The charming Mossbrae Falls near Shasta Springs, nort…Dunsmuir station 1907 postcardc. 1907Dunsmuir station 1907 postcardPostcardDunsmuir station 1918 postcard1907–1915Dunsmuir station 1918 postcardPostcardDunsmuir station postcard1907–1915Dunsmuir station postcardPostcardMoss Brae Falls, near Shasta Springs, Cal1908Moss Brae Falls, near Shasta Springs, Cal
1910s–1930s5 items
2 Dunsmuir Calc. 19112 Dunsmuir CalPostcardDunsmuir and the Crags California1918–1930Dunsmuir and the Crags CaliforniaPostcardDunsmuir, Califc. 1921Dunsmuir, CalifPostcardFrank Patterson D5 - Dunsmuir, Cal1930sFrank Patterson D5 - Dunsmuir, CalPostcardFrank Patterson D22 - Round House, Dunsmuir Calc. 1937Frank Patterson D22 - Round House, Dunsmuir CalPostcard
1950s1 item
Martin & Tucker 110 - Dunsmuir, Califc. 1950Martin & Tucker 110 - Dunsmuir, CalifPostcard
1960s–1990snothing yet
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Add from your album
Date unknown6 to date
1759 Business SectionDate?1759 Business SectionPostcard814 Dunsmuir, Cal. Castle Craigs in distanceDate?814 Dunsmuir, Cal. Castle Craigs in distancePostcardDunsmuir Avenue with snowDate?Dunsmuir Avenue with snowPostcardDunsmuir CalDate?Dunsmuir CalPostcardG. A. Hutaff - Hotel Weed and Street View, Dunsmuir, CalDate?G. A. Hutaff - Hotel Weed and Street View, Dunsmuir, …PostcardG. A. Hutaff - Street Scene. Looking South. Dunsmuir, CalDate?G. A. Hutaff - Street Scene. Looking South. Dunsmuir,…Postcard
Today34 recent
Japanese Maple and ferns2019Japanese Maple and fernsAutumn on the Sacramento River2019Autumn on the Sacramento RiverMinenwerferDunsmuir 032018MinenwerferDunsmuir 03MinenwerferDunsmuir 022018MinenwerferDunsmuir 02MinenwerferDunsmuir 012018MinenwerferDunsmuir 01Early morning in the rain2016Early morning in the rainAbner Phelps Safe2013Abner Phelps SafeA creative stone wall in which the creator embedded various everyday objects, including tools2012A creative stone wall in which the creator embedded v…A vintage locomotive plow and water tower at Rail Road Park, an unusual motel and resort complex in which guests may op…2012A vintage locomotive plow and water tower at Rail Roa…An extremely old train car at Rail Road Park, an unusual motel and resort complex in which guests may opt to stay and s…2012An extremely old train car at Rail Road Park, an unus…An extremely old train car at Rail Road Park, an unusual motel and resort complex in which guests may opt to stay and s…2012An extremely old train car at Rail Road Park, an unus…A vintage locomotive plow at Rail Road Park, an unusual motel and resort complex in which guests may opt to stay and sl…2012A vintage locomotive plow at Rail Road Park, an unusu…A vintage locomotive plow at Rail Road Park, an unusual motel and resort complex in which guests may opt to stay and sl…2012A vintage locomotive plow at Rail Road Park, an unusu…A vintage locomotive plow at Rail Road Park, an unusual motel and resort complex in which guests may opt to stay and sl…2012A vintage locomotive plow at Rail Road Park, an unusu…A vintage locomotive plow at Rail Road Park, an unusual motel and resort complex in which guests may opt to stay and sl…2012A vintage locomotive plow at Rail Road Park, an unusu…Steam locomotive, water tower, and siding at Rail Road Park, an unusual motel and resort complex in which guests may op…2012Steam locomotive, water tower, and siding at Rail Roa…A yellow caboose at Rail Road Park, an unusual motel and resort complex in which guests may opt to stay and sleep in a …2012A yellow caboose at Rail Road Park, an unusual motel …Train cars at Rail Road Park, an unusual motel and resort complex in which guests may opt to stay and sleep in a caboos…2012Train cars at Rail Road Park, an unusual motel and re…Train cars at Rail Road Park, an unusual motel and resort complex in which guests may opt to stay and sleep in a caboos…2012Train cars at Rail Road Park, an unusual motel and re…Train cars at Rail Road Park, an unusual motel and resort complex in which guests may opt to stay and sleep in a caboos…2012Train cars at Rail Road Park, an unusual motel and re…Train cars at Rail Road Park, an unusual motel and resort complex in which guests may opt to stay and sleep in a caboos…2012Train cars at Rail Road Park, an unusual motel and re…Train cars at Rail Road Park, an unusual motel and resort complex in which guests may opt to stay and sleep in a caboos…2012Train cars at Rail Road Park, an unusual motel and re…Train cars at Rail Road Park, an unusual motel and resort complex in which guests may opt to stay and sleep in a caboos…2012Train cars at Rail Road Park, an unusual motel and re…Train cars at Rail Road Park, an unusual motel and resort complex in which guests may opt to stay and sleep in a caboos…2012Train cars at Rail Road Park, an unusual motel and re…Train cars at Rail Road Park, an unusual motel and resort complex in which guests may opt to stay and sleep in a caboos…2012Train cars at Rail Road Park, an unusual motel and re…Train cars at Rail Road Park, an unusual motel and resort complex in which guests may opt to stay and sleep in a caboos…2012Train cars at Rail Road Park, an unusual motel and re…Train cars at Rail Road Park, an unusual motel and resort complex in which guests may opt to stay and sleep in a caboos…2012Train cars at Rail Road Park, an unusual motel and re…Train cars at Rail Road Park, an unusual motel and resort complex in which guests may opt to stay and sleep in a caboos…2012Train cars at Rail Road Park, an unusual motel and re…A creative stone wall in which the creator embedded various everyday objects, including tools. Dunsmuir, California2012A creative stone wall in which the creator embedded v…This branch library2012This branch libraryThe California Theatre was opened in 1926 by T&D Jr. Enterprises. Dunsmuir, California2012The California Theatre was opened in 1926 by T&D Jr. …A creative stone wall in which the creator embedded various everyday objects, including tools2012A creative stone wall in which the creator embedded v…A creative stone wall in which the creator embedded various everyday objects, including tools2012A creative stone wall in which the creator embedded v…Motoring in northern California2011Motoring in northern California
On the National Register

1 listing protects 32 historic buildings

The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving.

place listed
1
National Historic Landmarks
0
none yet
historic buildings protected
32
each building in a district counts
first listed
1982
Dunsmuir Historic Commercial District
Dunsmuir Historic Commercial District
Districts

Architectural styles listings

Queen Anne1
Richardsonian Romanesque1
Beaux Arts Classicism1
Renaissance Revival1
Mission1
Moderne1
Dunsmuir Historic Commercial DistrictQueen Anne

National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.

People over time

Dunsmuir, census by census

05001,0001,5002,0002,5003,000192019401960198020002020Peak: 2,873

Peaked at 2,873 in 1960; 1,707 people lived here in 2020.

12 censuses, 1910–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Dunsmuir’s Wikipedia page.

The story

How Dunsmuir came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Dunsmuir.

Read it all →

Sites in and near Dunsmuir have been inhabited for over 5000 years. At least three waves of early peoples swept through area, establishing residence. At the time of the first European-American contact in the 1820s, the site of Dunsmuir was within the range of the Okwanuchu tribe of Native Americans.

During the 1820s, early European-American hunters and trappers passed through Dunsmuir's site, following the Siskiyou Trail. In the mid-1830s, pioneer horse and cattle drives came up the Sacramento Canyon, delivering livestock from Mexican California to the new settlements in the Oregon Country to the north. In 1841, an overland party of the famous United States Exploring Expedition passed through the area.

ChaptersCalifornia's largest hazardous chemical spill

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Timeline

Dunsmuir, 1887 to 1960

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 19th century
  2. 1887Post officeThe Dunsmuir post office opens
  3. 1892In the archiveSanborn Fire Insurance Map from Dunsmuir, Siskiyou County, California. LOC sanborn00511 0…
  4. 20th century
  5. 1901Born hereHarold Muller is born here
  6. 1903In the archive"A man who is worth his salt will work" - President Roosevelt at Dunsmuir, Cal
  7. 1911In the archive2 Dunsmuir Cal
  8. 1921In the archiveDunsmuir, Calif
  9. 1930In the archiveFrank Patterson D5 - Dunsmuir, Cal
  10. 1940Born hereRobert Williams is born here
  11. 1944Born hereJohn Zenda is born here
  12. 1944Born hereNick Eddy is born here
  13. 1950In the archiveMartin & Tucker 110 - Dunsmuir, Calif
  14. 1954On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  15. 1960CensusPopulation peaks at 2,873
On the map

Dunsmuir on the map, 1954 to 1998

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Dunsmuir. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Dunsmuir on the 1954 USGS mapDunsmuir on the 1986 USGS mapDunsmuir on the 1998 USGS map1954Dunsmuir sheet · 1:62,500

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Dunsmuir.

Every building

Dunsmuir, building by building, 1892–1920

Fire insurance maps drew every building, what it was made of and what it was used for, so insurers could price the risk of fire. Pick a year, then a sheet.

Dunsmuir fire insurance map, 1892, sheet 11892Sheet 1 of 1
Edition
Sheets
BrickWoodStone

Sanborn Map Company, via the Library of Congress. Editions published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.

Then & now

Stand where they stood

No then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as an old one and they appear here side by side.

Mossbrae Falls, California
Retake this viewMossbrae Falls, California, 1899

Find the spot, match the angle, and add your photo. It becomes the first then-and-now pair on Dunsmuir’s page.

Retake this view · +15
Famous people

6 famous people were born in Dunsmuir

Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.

See all →
Harold MullerAmerican sportsman · b. 1901
J
John ZendaAmerican actor · b. 1944
Robert WilliamsAmerican astronomer (b.1940) · b. 1940
N
Nick EddyPlayer of American football · b. 1944
Ray ColemanAmerican baseball player · b. 1922
R
Richard MillardAmerican suffragan bishop · b. 1914
Places that used to be

Old corners and burying grounds

Dunsmuir’s post office has been open since 1887.

Hamlets and corners on the map
Shasta Retreat
1cemetery inside Dunsmuir
Dunsmuir

US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

Help out

Finish Dunsmuir’s story

Most archives stop around 1920. The photos from after that are in family albums, not libraries.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
5 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Date a photo6 archive items have no date. Guess the decade.+2Retake an old viewMossbrae Falls, California: stand where they stood+15Share a family photoSign in to add one+10

Questions about Dunsmuir’s history

What year was Dunsmuir founded?

The Dunsmuir post office opened in 1887, the earliest record of the town by name (U.S. post office records).

How does Dunsmuir rank for history?

Dunsmuir is more historic than 86% of U.S. towns. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.

What is on the National Register in Dunsmuir?

One place: the Dunsmuir Historic Commercial District (listed 1982).

How old are the homes in Dunsmuir?

39% of Dunsmuir’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±7.5 points), against a typical 3.4% for a California town; the median home was built in 1947.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

From Wikimedia Commons (27), the Library of Congress (28), the National Register of Historic Places (1), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock), the USGS Geographic Names Information System and Sanborn fire insurance maps (Library of Congress). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.