Located about 12.5 miles east of Oakdale CA, about a mile and a quarter off CA 120 on Sonora Road, the unincorporated town of Knights Ferry was founded on the banks of the Stanislaus River in 1849. The site was chosen by Dr. William Knight as a favorable location to have a ferry crossing. The road from the southern mines around Sonora passed through Knights Ferry on its way to the port town of Stockton.

The first bridge across the Stanislaus River at Knights Ferry was completed in 1857, which ended the need for a ferry. The town grew and prospered such that it became the seat for Stanislaus County from 1862 to 1872. An unseasonably warm rain near the end of 1862 melted the heavy snows in the Sierra, causing the river to peak at 35 feet above its low water mark. The flood waters wash away many houses and most of its businesses. The bridge was completely undone when another bridge unriver and swept by the flood crashed into it. The ferry service was brought back until a new bridge was completed in 1864. The Knights Ferry covered bridge is the longest of its kind west of the Mississippi River, stretching 330 feet in length.

At its height, the town of Knights Ferry had over 5000 people. The town's decline began when the county seat was moved to Modesto and the newly built Stockton-Visalia railroad line made its area station at Oakdale.

Stanislaus County
Population: 98 (estimated)
Elevation: 213 ft.

Dates visited: March 11, 2017; May 13, 2017; and May 17, 2018

Knights Ferry Covered Bridge

Built in 1864 to replace the bridge washed away in the flood of 1862, the Knights Ferry Covered Bridge was a toll bridge until Stanislaus County purchased it in 1885.

[Picture of the Knights Ferry Covered Bridge]

[Picture of the interior of the Covered Bridge]

[Picture of Alfred on the side of the Covered Bridge]

Tulloch's Mill

Knights Ferry's first flour mill was built on the site by David Locke in the late 1850s, but was washed away by the flood in 1862. A new mill was built after the waters receded in 1863 by David Tulloch. The flour mill was converted by Tulloch's son, Charles, into a hydroelectric plant before the turn of the century and remained in operations until the late 1920s.

[Picture of the exterior of the ruins of Tulloch's Mill]

[Picture of the interior of the ruins of Tulloch's Mill]

[Picture of Tulloch Miller's House]

Old Jail

Knights Ferry's old jail was erected in 1912 and used mostly to dry out workers building the Goodwin Diverting Dam who would come into town on Friday and Saturday nights, get drunk, and subsequently be charged with disturbing the peace. The offenders would be released after they sobered up.

[Picture of the Old Jail]

[Picture of the interior of the jail]

Knights Ferry Hotel

The Knights Ferry Hotel was built in 1854. It is now a private residence.

[Picture of Knights Ferry Hotel]

Dakin and McLauflin's Blacksmith shop

The Blacksmith Shop was opened in 1853 and later expanded to include a second building (attached to the left). Original building burned down in 1928. Volunteers constructed current structure in 1982 to resemble orginal Dakin Blacksmith Shop before turning it over to Oakdale Rural Fire Department

[Picture of Dakin Blacksmith Shop]

General Store

The General Store of Knights Ferry was built in 1852 and has been in continuous operation since, making it the oldest store of its kind in the state.

[Picture of General Store]

Miller's Saloon (Hall)

Built in 1863, Miller's Saloon (or Hall) originally had a bar as well as a pool and poker parlor on the ground floor with a dance hall upstairs. It was sold in 1903 and served as a hotel for some years thereafter. It also houses the Knights Ferry Post Office.

[Picture of Miller's Saloon]
[Picture of Post Office Sign]

Oddfellows' Hall

The Oddfellows' Hall in Knights Ferry was built in 1870.

[Picture of Oddfellow's Hall]

Original Fire House

The original Hook and Ladder Co. fire house was built in 1871, but was destroyed in te 1955 flood. This replica of the fire house was constructed in 1976.

[Picture of Hook and Ladder Co]

Masonic Hall

Masonic Hall in Knights Ferry was built in 1870.

[Picture of Masonic Hall]

Schell House

The Schell House was built in 1856.

[Picture of Schell House]

Dent "Long" House

First home built in Knights Ferry. Constructed in 1851.

[Picture of Dent Long House]

Dakin Home

Home of the town's blacksmith, built in 1853.

[Picture of Dakin Home]

Methodist Episcopal Church

This church was built in 1890, replacing the previous one built in 1860. The new church conserved the original pews, altar, and upper windows.

[Picture of Methodist Episcopal Church]

Knights Ferry Cemetery

The Oak Grove Cemetery is where those who once lived in Knights Ferry and its environs have been laid to rest. It's located less than one mile in a roughly westernly direction from town.

[Picture of Condenia Bach grave]

[Picture of George and Jeanette Walther grave]

[Picture of Jacob Dabel grave]

[Picture of John Armstrong grave]

[Picture of Marie Bach grave]

[Picture of Thomas and Janet Lane grave]

[Picture of weathered wood grave marker]

[Picture of Wm Cutler Pingree grave]