At one time the largest town in eastern Yuba County, Timbuctoo is now almost entirely abandoned. Only the ruins of the 1855 Wells Fargo Express office remains from the time when the town had 1200 residents, a church, a theatre, hotels, stores, and saloons.

Timbuctoo, 1850's.
Photographer unknown
(V. Covert Martin Collection, Haggin Museum)

In 1850, an African miner started working the ravines in the area and when the town was formed in 1855, it was named after him. According to legend, the miner was from Western Africa and the town was named after his home town of Tombouctou (Timbuktu). Hydraulic mining was also practiced here and the town died when hydraulic mining was made illegal.

The Wells Fargo Express building, c. 1936.
Photographer unknown
(HABS collection, Library of Congress)

"Hydraulic Mining--Timbuctoo Diggings, Yuba County", c. 1866.
Photographer unknown
(Lawrence & Houseworth Collection, Library of Congress)

Two views of the derelict Wells Fargo Express office, fenced off because of the danger of collapsing walls. The building, also known as the Stewart Brothers store, was restored in 1928 but has since crumpled.