Tour Starts Here at 477 Main Street, Placerville, CaliforniaThe old 1888 map is a bird’s-eye view of Placerville, California by The Weekly Observer
Old City Hall Lot, Main Street, Placerville, California
Step back in time and uncover the captivating history of Placerville. Our self-guided walking tour invites you to explore the town's gold rush past and vibrant community life. Visit our website today to plan your historical adventure and immerse yourself in California's rich heritage! #ExplorePlacerville #GoldRushHistory #AdventureAwaits
At the crossroads of U.S. Route 50, a designated scenic highway in the Golden State—home of California Poppy, our state flower—and California State Route 49, historic 300-mile drive through California’s Gold Country, Placerville stands as a gateway to the rich heritage of the Sierra foothills and the enduring legacy and link in the chain of gold rush towns, a place where the past and present meet along this historic pathway.
"Old 1888 Map & Photo Walk" of Historic Main St. Since 1998. A Gold Rush Mining Camp Named Hangtown, Dry Diggin's and Originally: Ravine City
Walk Old Hangtown Tour Starts Here at Old 1888 Map & Photo Walk Display Since 1998 Placerville, California
Old Map & Photo Walk Display Located at Old City Hall Lot
El Dorado County Court House
#1. 495 Main Street. Building began in 1911 and was completed in 1912.
Placerville Old City Hall
#2. (Confidence Engine House 1860 and the Jane Stuart Building 1859) 487 Main Street.
I.O.O.F.: Morning Star Lodge #20
#3. 467 Main Street Built in 1911 and has a rare spring-loaded dance floor.
Placerville Hardware
Placerville News Co.: (Shelly Inch Building)
#4 (Hardware Building and the Mountain Democrat Newspaper Building) 441 Main Street. Both Built in 1857.
Masonic Hall/El Dorado Lodge #26
Placerville News Co.: (Shelly Inch Building)
Placerville News Co.: (Shelly Inch Building)
#5. 419 Main Street. Built in 1893.
Placerville News Co.: (Shelly Inch Building)
Placerville News Co.: (Shelly Inch Building)
Placerville News Co.: (Shelly Inch Building)
#6. 409 Main Street. Lower floor built in 1856. Upper floor and iron front added 1898.
The Hangman's Tree
#8. 305 Main Street. Historical Landmark #141 Built in 1852. Site of the famous hangman's tree.
Cary House Hotel
#9. The Hotel Placerville and The Raffles Hotel) 300 Main Street. Built in 1915 and named the Cary House. In 1983 the building was renamed.
The Fountain & Tallman Building
The Fountain & Tallman Building
#10. 524 Main Street. Built in 1852. It survived the fire of 1856 and housed the Tallman & Fountain Soda Works.
EDC Chamber of Commerce
The Fountain & Tallman Building
#11 547 Main Street. The Veteran's Memorial Building. Built in 1921 to honor local men who served in WWl.
Cedar Ravine Stable Building
#112 582 Main Street. Built in 1864.
Pearson Soda Works Building
#13 594 Main Street. Building built in 1859. Upper floor was added in 1898.
The Bell Tower
#7 Built in 1898, the tower is the third to stand on this site. Placed in the center of town to sound the terrible alarm of "FIRE" and to call to battle the volunteer firemen, the tower is a unique landmark of Placerville.
Druid Monument
#14. Corner of Main Street and Cedar Ravine. Erected in 1926 as a memorial to Frederick Sieg who was the founder of California's Grove #1 of the Druid Lodge in Placerville.
Old 1888 Map & Photo Walk Display of Main St by Marilyn Ferguson and Josette Johnson Since 1998
Old 1888 Map & Photo Walk Display of Main St by Marilyn Ferguson and Josette Johnson Since 1998
Walk Old Placerville ~ See "Tour Starts Here" on old 1888 map and photo display, since 1998, located at the public restroom in the Old City Hall Lot near the city clock off Main Street. Map and Text by Marilyn Ferguson, Historic Research Consultant. Photos & Historic Display Donated by Josette Johnson Since 1998. For more information go to: http://archives.josettejohnson.com or email: archives@josettejohnson.com
Embark on a journey through time “Old Map & Photo Walk”©1998
The Old Map and Photo Walk in Old Placerville is a captivating journey through the city's history.
Embrace the spirit of adventure & embark on a journey through time with “Old 1888 Map & Photo Walk.” ©1998 along Main Street “village of gold” ~Walk Old Hangtown~ Experience the magic of Placerville’s history & let the street’s Whisper tales of the gold rush era at this crossroads of Scenic Highway 50 and Historic State Route 49. Text from the original “Walking Tour of Historic Placerville” ©1973 with historic research by Marilyn Ferguson.
Tour starts here for the history buff ~ Scan code & enjoy some time traveling in our captivating city. See web portal for sesquicentennial edition celebrating Placerville’s 150 years golden past, ©2007, with historic points of interest, plant list sampler, public gardens, & mural projects. ~ Historic 1888 Map & Main St Landmarks Photo Display (Since 1998) donated, maintained, and photographs by Archives.JosetteJohnson.com
PLACERVILLE
"A VILLAGE OF GOLD"
By: Marilyn Ferguson
Since the first deposits of placer gold were found on the banks of Hangtown Creek in 1848, Placerville has been the center of activity in the region of California known as the "Central Mines." Men from every part of the world flocked to Placerville; Georgians, Chileans and Sonorans were the first miners who came with knowledge of mining methods. Great gold deposits were mined and some 49'ers returned home rich, while others stated to become the founding fathers of the town; others died alone and penniless, lost to their loved ones.
In 1850, the village was officially called Placerville in remembrance of the huge placer gold deposits found here. Incorporation came in May of 1854. In five short years, Placerville had grown from a mining camp, to a village, to a city. In 1857, Placerville, by popular vote, became the county seat.
Placerville earned the nickname of "Hangtown" when in 1849 a big oak tree in the middle of the camp was used to mete out quick justice to wrongdoers. The nick name stuck and persists to this day, to the pleasure of some and the displeasure of others.
The strategic location on the early emigrant route made Placerville an important supply center. In 1859 when the great Nevada silver deposits of the Comstock Lode were discovered, long line of supply wagons threaded their way east over the Sierras, carrying needed provisions, and returned with the rich ore from the mines heading for the Mint in San Francisco.
Many Miners prospered from their gold finds, and seeing ample opportunities, opened businesses, supplied goods and services, developed a huge lumber industry, built great water and road systems, and established vst acres of agricultural lands.
Located at the intersection of State Highway 50 and State Route 49, modern Main Street shows a busy, growing town. But under the layers of facade, stand rhyolite stone buildings (c. 1853-1858), reminders of the citizens who, by their enterprise and hard work, left us the legacy of a permanent city.
Originally Published in 2007 © Placerville Sesquicentennial Historic Garden Walk.
Old 1888 Map and Photo Walk of historic Main Street oldest building and points of interest landmarks
For more information on the special edition sesquicentennial book, Historic Garden Walk from 2007 celebrating Placerville’s 150-year golden past with more landmarks & public art at gardens, click below.
The Old Map and Photo Walk in Placerville is a captivating journey through the city's history. It features an 1888 Birds Eye View map, rendering from an earlier 1851 map, published in "Weekly Observer," offering intricate details of the city's streets and structures. Historic researcher Marilyn Ferguson identified and created a legend for the 12 oldest Main Street buildings, complemented by directional landmarks, the Druid monument torch and the bell tower landmark.
Josette Johnson digitized the map and took photographs of these historic sites, providing a visual connection to the past. The display is thoughtfully located near the old city clock, in a special alcove of the public restroom designed for its preservation, and courtesy of Keith Johnson's help, donation and dedication over the past 25 years. This display is a cherished educational and cultural asset for Placerville, inviting visitors to embark on a journey through time. It's not only a historical resource but also an artistic and cultural treasure that resonates with the city's gold rush era. Whether you're a local or a tourist, this display offers a unique opportunity to explore Placerville's history and its picturesque spots.
From its bronze paint to the photos she captures, preserving the plaque's integrity ensures that this display remains a cherished piece of Placerville's history and to the display's enduring significance and this well-maintained exhibit remains a vital part of Placerville's heritage. It's a must-visit for history enthusiasts, serving as the starting point for a tour of Placerville's, the heart of California’s gold country & mother load is located at the crossroads of Scenic Highway 50 and Historic State Route 49. Simply scan the code to begin your time-traveling adventure and download the old map photo walk brochure for a deeper dive into Placerville's fascinating history.
Wildflowers we seeded along the Scenic Corridor of Hwy 50.
The Golden State of California
The State flower is the California Golden Poppy * Placerville Gold Country * A link in the chain of gold Rush towns along the Golden Highway of Route 49 and El Dorado Highway 50 in the scenic corridor Of the Mother Lode.
The display itself is located near the old city clock at the public restroom, which was designed to accommodate it. Kei
The State flower is the California Golden Poppy * Placerville Gold Country * A link in the chain of gold Rush towns along the Golden Highway of Route 49 and El Dorado Highway 50 in the scenic corridor Of the Mother Lode.
The display itself is located near the old city clock at the public restroom, which was designed to accommodate it. Keith contributed by installing a bronzed wood plaque to hold the map, and Josette has diligently maintained it for 25 years. She has even updated the map and photos periodically, with the latest map being a gift from Keith in recognition of her dedication.
This display serves as an invaluable educational, artistic, historical, and cultural asset for the city. Visitors are drawn to it, reading the map and downloading it to their phones. The photo walk offers a unique opportunity to explore Placerville's oldest historic buildings and picturesque spots, making it a valuable resource for both locals and tourists interested in the area's gold rush era.
River of Gold
Golden Poppies are spreading along the Scenic Corridor of US 50 the Historic State Route 49 crossroads from Bedford Ave to near the Welcome Sign area in Placerville Gold Country Share your photos of Old Placerville.
Notes on this fascinating story “Bird's Eye View Placerville, Cal. Published By The "Weekly Observer" 1888” Stanford Librarie
Golden Poppies are spreading along the Scenic Corridor of US 50 the Historic State Route 49 crossroads from Bedford Ave to near the Welcome Sign area in Placerville Gold Country Share your photos of Old Placerville.
Notes on this fascinating story “Bird's Eye View Placerville, Cal. Published By The "Weekly Observer" 1888” Stanford Libraries Exhibit Mining Maps and Views~
- “Rare view of Placerville, California, in the heart of California's Gold Country, by W. W. Elliott. Marvelous detailed plan of this important early California mining town sketched by L. Roethe, 1851, showing buildings, street names, topographical details, etc. The view is one of the earliest large format printed views of Placerville and is quite rare on the market. The view includes 25 insets of prominent buildings and residences in Placerville, and a smaller view showing Placerville in 1851. The map also includes an index identifying 30 places and a testimonial narrative about El Dorado County, California. Several mining areas can be seen in the hills. An interesting birdseye view by Elliott, who also published some of the rarest Illustrated California County histories, richly illustrated with maps and views of local buildings.
- Map shows California, Western US.
- Stanford edu copy: Backed with a thin layer of Japan paper to support old folds.”
~From. Stanford edu website.
The historic background about the map's origin and significance adds depth to the display's historical value.
Placerville Petals
Placerville Petals
"Volunteers are the Flowers of Placerville." ~ Marilyn Ferguson (with Suzy & Josette) planting poppy seeds near Bedford Avenue across the creek from where our tour begins at Old City Hall. Part of our Caltrans Adopt-A-Highway Poppy and Pollinators Project
Walk Old Hangtown and California Poppy Project Placerville Petals Photo Montage
