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Hanford
Visitors to Sequoia National Park learned Hanford's secret over 75 years
ago. This small valley city, located halfway between Interstate 5 and
Highway 99, has a prosperous charm exemplified in a classic downtown built
around a shaded courthouse square. The local economy of Hanford, established
in 1887 by the Southern Pacific, was originally based on the railroad,
crops, and dairies. But as auto travel became the preferred means of reaching
the valley and Sierra Nevada, Hanford languished. Even Highway 198 now
bypasses the town by a half mile. Oddly enough,
from the 1950s to the 1980s it was best known for its improbably huge,
popular continental/ Chinese restaurant, IMPERIAL DYNASTY—which
is still open, although a bit quieter now-adays. Today Hanford easily
warrants an overnight stay. Many visitors arrive by train from the San
Francisco Bay area via AMTRAK (200 Santa Fe Avenue; 800/872-7245). Pick
up tour information at HANFORD VISITOR AGENCY (200 Santa Fe Avenue; 800/722-1114
or 559/582-5024), inside the 1898 railroad station.
Courthouse Square's magnificent COUNTY OF KINGS COURTHOUSE (on 8th Street
between Irwin and Douty Streets), built in 1896, is worth a visit (note
the see-through cast iron stairs inside), although it's occupied by businesses
these days. The jail building next door (113 Court Street; 559/582-9741),
built in 1898, has a castlelike tower and a great arched stone entry;
it's now a restaurant known as the Bastille, where the decor is the main
attraction. Other buildings of interest around the square include the
Civic AUDITORIUM (in Civic Center Park, 400 N Douty Street), dating back
to 1924; the former post office (218 Douty Street),built in 1914; and
the FOX THEATRE (Irwin and 8th Streets; 559/584- 7423), a 1929 Spanish
colonial temple for the early talkies, which now hosts concerts and special
events. In short, Hanford is a treasure box of civic architecture. Residential
streets fan out through equally historic
neighborhoods, although these have seen more incursion by the modern world.
For the best look at the area's history, visit the stone HANFORD CARNEGIE
MUSEUM (109 E 8th Street; 559/584-1367). Architecture scholars consider
this 1905 structure the finest example of a Carnegie- built free public
library in the state.
Thirsty doing all that meandering around the square? If you don't fancy
a milk shake at SUPERIOR DAIRY PRODUCTS COMPANY, one of the world's great
soda fountains, wander a few blocks from the square to ART WORKS (120
W Sixth Street; 559/583-8790), in the 1893 Arcade Building facing the
railroad tracks; this hip little gallery and coffeehouse
is a fine place to shop for enticing, inexpensive gifts. In the CHINA
ALLEY district you can see a Taoist temple (a National Register of Historic
Places site), an herb company, and a hand laundry that all date from the
turn of the century, when Hanford's population of Chinese railroad laborers
and their families was one of the state's largest. Tour appointment information
is available from the Hanford Visitor Agency.
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