[2][3] The site was proclaimed a state historic park July 15, 1945, and the restored buildings are operated as an inhabited, working open-air museum.

Gold was discovered in the area that became Columbia on March 27, 1850, by John Walker, who was a member of Thadeus and George Hildreth's party.

The surface-level deposits were amenable to placer mining, but lacked water needed for such operations.

Over the next several years, a network of water supply aqueducts was built (at a cost of over $1 million) to the area to support mining operations.

[3] Columbia State Historic Park has been used as a shooting location for many films and television scenes.