In 1870, the Central Pacific Railroad extended down through the Central Valley, choosing a spot on high ground to lay out a street grid for the new town of Modesto. The neighboring towns of Paradise and Tuolumne City soon picked up their buildings and hauled them to what became the county seat by 1872. In this collection, Wayne A. Mathes of the McHenry Museum showcases some iconic Modesto scenes and shows how the city has evolved through the years.