Two significant historic sites in Yuba County will open their doors to the public on Saturday, September 19, participating in this year’s Doors Open California. The statewide program, presented by the California Preservation Foundation, highlights historically important places that are often less known or not regularly accessible. On this day, residents will have the opportunity to visit the historic Packard Library in Marysville and the Arboga Assembly Center Memorial Site and Interpretive Center in south Yuba County, with informed docents present to share their unique stories.
The Packard Library, located at 301 Fourth St. in downtown Marysville, opened in 1906. Constructed through the generosity of local benefactor John Q. Packard, this classic revival building served generations of Marysville residents as the community’s public library. Today, local preservation advocates are exploring potential new uses for the historic structure, including its future as a Yuba County history museum and an event center, according to a recent report.
A different, and more difficult, chapter of history will be presented at the Arboga Assembly Center Memorial Site and Interpretive Center. Located at 1110 Broadway St. in Olivehurst, just east of Feather River Boulevard, this site was a temporary incarceration location for approximately 2,500 Japanese Americans in 1942. Their detention followed the signing of Executive Order 9066, after which they were later transferred to more permanent War Relocation Authority internment camps. Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture noted in a statement that the site now includes interpretive elements designed to "help tell the stories of the families who were held there and preserve the memory of this important civil rights history.”
Doors Open California invites the public to explore significant landmarks, including historic buildings and cultural landscapes, across the state. The program, modeled after successful “open doors” initiatives globally, encourages Californians to experience history where it actually happened, Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture information states. Yuba County’s participation in the event is a collaborative effort between the Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture organization and the Yuba County Historic Resources Commission. These two groups are "working together to increase public awareness of the region’s historic resources and the importance of preserving them for future generations," a report states. Representatives of the participating organizations underscored the broader significance, stating, "Historic preservation is about much more than saving old buildings." They added that it is about preserving places that help people understand who they are, where they came from, and how the experiences of previous generations continue to shape local communities today.
Both the Packard Library and the Arboga Assembly Center Memorial Site and Interpretive Center will be open on Saturday, September 19, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Informed docents will be available at each location to greet visitors and provide historical context for the sites. Residents are encouraged to visit these sites to engage with Yuba County's diverse past.
