The Schoolhouse has a new number!!! (530) 687-7307.

Schoolhouse Illustration

The North Columbia Schoolhouse Cultural Center gives the rural San Juan Ridge community a local place to meet, to share its creativity, and to participate in a wide variety of enriching activities. Located 20 miles north of Nevada City, the Schoolhouse was built by the mining community in 1875, and has a long tradition of serving the community as a school and public meeting hall.

We strive to provide programming that enhances our community life. Over the years we have hosted hundreds of unique cultural events with artists, musicians, and writers from all over the world. We also host film screenings, community forums, classes, festivals, and the nationally renowned Sierra Storytelling Festival.

BUY THE TAPESTRY BOOK
SUPPORT THE SCHOOLHOUSE
The companion book to the San Juan Ridge tapestries, The Ridge Tapestries is now available!

● 90% of proceeds go to the schoolhouse!
● 200 page full-color coffee-table book
● Twelve fold outs, one for each tapestry
● Explanation of the design and stitching processes by Marsha Stone, Jennifer Rain Crosby, and Mary Moore
● Writings by central community members in the tapestries, including; Mike Getz, Hank Meals, Jerry Tecklin, David Tecklin, Kurt Lorenz, Caleb Dardick, Bruce Boyd, Doc Dachtler, Holly Tornheim, Jacquie Bellon, Jeff Gold, Boyd Johnson, Barbara Getz, Azriel LaMarca, and Jason Danielson
● $72 (includes shipping and handling)
● $45 (purchased at Schoolhouse events)

Click the blue link below to be directed to the Square Space & tap on the Ridge Tapestries tab to purchase the book!

https://north-columbia-schoolhouse-cultural-center.square.site/

https://www.sierrastorytellingfestival.org/

On August 11th at 7pm the Schoolhouse will have the incredible opportunity of welcoming String and Shadow’s giant puppet theater to our outdoor amphitheater. The Olympia, WA theater company will join us for one night of their 2026 west coast tour, featuring their newest production ‘Night at the Grand Opera; A Giant Puppet Show’. 

String and Shadow’s productions are a wonder to behold. This theater company really does it all, building larger than life sets and puppets from cardboard, fabric, and papier-mache. Their shows are written to entertain and engage all ages, and showcase a uniquely in-person art form that’s hard to come across in our increasingly digital world. We’ve endeavored to bring this act to the area purely because we think it fits right in on the ridge– you’ll love it, and you’re not going to want to miss it!

Despite the many challenges that go hand-in-hand with operating as a tiny nonprofit during tough times, our small-but-mighty team is determined to continue offering new and exciting arts, cultural, and educational opportunities to this community.

This is an ‘all or nothing’ fundraiser, meaning that if we cannot reach our goal by July 15th, the show cannot go on. 

Please consider helping to back this show by purchasing ‘presale’ tickets for the event through our kickstarter!  We recommend a sliding scale donation of $20-$40 per person, which is roughly what a ticket would cost. 

Click on the word “kickstarter” above to help get the show to happen!!!!

If you have more to give and want to ensure that the show will go on, consider a larger donation! If you can’t afford a $20 donation, even $5 helps. 

We’d love to have you join us!

Become a Member

For 35 years the North Columbia Schoolhouse Cultural Center has prospered and grown through the support of a dedicated membership. Members receive discounts on events, a quarterly newsletter, discounts on building rental, an invitation to the annual membership party, and the privilege of being part of a one-of-a-kind rural arts organization.

Join Now

Sign up to Volunteer

With one part-time employee, the Schoolhouse depends on volunteer labor. We welcome help with events, mailings, baking, maintenance and workdays, office tasks, and many other jobs. Volunteering is a great opportunity to get involved in the community and meet new friends and neighbors. It’s really a lot of fun! If you are interested, please sign up here.

Sign Up

PLAN YOUR EVENT HERE!

We offer our space at an affordable cost to the community and encourage you to rent the space for classes, private parties, and community events (members receive a significant discount on rental).

Many couples have held their ceremony under the towering pine trees. We have an outdoor amphitheater that seats hundreds. Our indoor space can accommodate up to 200 people. There are two restrooms in the building. Additionally, we have a back studio room that can be used as a green room, staging area for caterers, or a dressing room.

Book Your Event