HERITAGE
TRAIL
CALENDAR
SUMMER LONG ADVENTURE 2019
26 MUSEUMS - ROSEVILLE TO TAHOE!
Welcome Trail Travelers!
We are glad you
decided to join us on the 2019 Heritage Trail Museums Tour. This is the 12th
year for the event and 26 museums from Roseville to Tahoe/Truckee are opening
their doors free of charge for certain days throughout the summer. All 26
museums are committed to showcasing history in a fun and entertaining way. For
many Trail Travelers, this event has become a family tradition. This year, just
as last year, geographic clusters of museums will have their Heritage Trail
event on certain Saturdays throughout the summer. This way you have the whole summer to visit
participating museums. We are focusing on the 150th anniversary of
the Transcontinental Railroad, so keep your eye open for special exhibits and
programs tied to this important anniversary!
If you can’t make it on a museums’ Heritage
Trail day, you can visit them during their regular hours of operation and still
get your Get-Up-And-Go cards stamped! All museums have free admission on their
Heritage Trail day (see calendar below). If you visit them on any other day,
you will have to pay admission if applicable.
Whether you are
from Auburn, Reno, San Francisco, or Boston, please enjoy this opportunity to
take a trip back in time and get a better understanding of Placer County’s rich
and colorful history. Each museum on the tour is unique. Aside from immersing
yourselves in history, you will enjoy the variety of settings at each museum. If you are a student entering K thru 12th
grade in the fall of 2019, you can enter a chance to win a Samsung Galaxy
tablet, a Kindle Fire or backpacks full of school supplies by completing a student
scavenger hunt card. Scavenger hunt cards are available in participating
museums.
Please read the
calendar on the following pages. Thanks
again for joining us. We hope you have a great time!
Ralph Gibson
Placer County
Museums Administrator
Chairperson, The Heritage Trail
TRAIL TIPS
THE FOLLOWING
TRAIL TIPS WILL HELP YOU PLAN YOUR ADVENTURE.
·
For questions about The Heritage Trail, please call 530-889-6500.
·
Eating, drinking and smoking are not permitted in the museums.
·
Leave pets at home.
·
You’ll want to bring your camera. Inquire at each museum for flash
photography guidelines.
·
Be sure to pick up your FREE Get Up & Go card at the first
museum you visit.
·
If you can’t make it to a museum on their
Heritage Trail Day, please visit them during regular hours of operation.
·
This year it will take 8 stamps on your
Get-Up-And-Go card to qualify for a gift basket drawing.
Heritage Trail 2019 Calendar
June 15th 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Bernhard Museum
291
Auburn Folsom Rd., Auburn
Dive into family-friendly living
history fun! Explore vintage toys and wagons. Make a mini fruit crate and rag
dolls. Challenge your knuckles—do laundry the old-fashioned way. Dress up in
19th century style and take advantage of multiple photo opportunities. And be sure
to refresh your family with watermelon and hand-cranked ice cream!
Normal
hours of operation: Tuesday–Sunday 11:00-4:00
Benton Welty School Room
1225
Lincoln Way, Auburn
Auburn Grammar School, built in
1915 (now Auburn City Hall), listed on the National Register of Historic
Places. Get a rare sense of old school days in a classroom packed with photos,
scrapbooks, maps and old school books. Try your hand at string games and
penmanship. Young visitors will be engaged with 1916 classroom activities. Enter
the free “just for kids” basket drawing. Ample parking behind building. School
songs of yesteryear with Clifford Johnson at 1:00 pm!
Normal
hours of operation: Open by appointment only.
Gold Rush Museum
601
Lincoln Way, Auburn
Pan for gold in our indoor panning
stream, tour museum which includes a replica mining tunnel, gold rush era
artifacts, a Gold Rush Twitter wall, Ghost Town and play an interactive Gold
Rush game.
Normal
hours of operation: Thursday thru Sunday 10:30 – 4:00
June 22nd
Loomis Basin Historical Society at
the Loomis Library and Community Center 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
6050
Library Dr., Loomis
View exhibits on Loomis Basin pioneers and
entrepreneurs, businesses and Chinatown artifacts. Fruit ranchers will also be
featured. View a video of the history of the area. There is a walking tour of
downtown as part of the Legacy Loop. You can view replicas of original fruit
labels that have been cemented into the sidewalks on Taylor Road. There are
fruit label murals painted on the sides of many of the downtown buildings. Use
your cell phone to simply dial 916-512-1206. Enter the number associated with
each mural followed by the #sign and you will hear a recorded message of the
history behind each mural.
Normal
hours of operation: Tues. 1:00 pm – 7:00 pm; Wed. – Sat. 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Griffith Quarry Museum 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
Corner
of Taylor and Rock Springs Roads, Penryn
View exhibits on granite quarrying,
the Penryn Granite Works business, the history of Penryn and the Griffith Family. Inside are two great hands-on exhibits and a
guided tour of the historic Quarry Park will be offered at 8:30 am.
Normal
hours of operation: Saturday and Sunday 12:00-4:00
Rocklin History Museum 10:00
am – 4:00 pm
3895
Rocklin Rd., Rocklin
View exhibits on Rocklin pioneers,
buildings and granite quarrying plus extensive photographs and interpretation
of J.P. Whitney and his land holdings. Granite splitting demonstration at 11:00
am – you can’t miss this!
Normal
hours of operation: Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday 1:00-4:00
June 29th
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Gatekeepers Museum
130
West Lake Blvd., Tahoe City
View the Marion Steinbach Indian
Basket Collection and exhibits on Tahoe history; special exhibit on the 1960
Winter Olympics; and special activity outside.
Normal
hours of operation: Daily 10:00-5:00
Watson Cabin
560
North Lake Blvd., Tahoe City
Built in 1909 by Robert Watson as a
wedding present for his son, the Watson Cabin is the oldest building
constructed onsite in Tahoe City and is listed on the National Register of
Historic Places. View pioneer artifacts
from early Tahoe with docent-led tours.
Normal
hours of operation: (summer: Wed-Sun 12-4).
July 6th 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Placer County Museum (Historic
Courthouse)
101
Maple St., Auburn
Overview of Placer County history,
Pate Collection of American Indian Artifacts, gold collection, restored
Sheriff’s Office, Women’s Jail with Alma Bell, make your own wanted poster and
the Placer County Genealogical Society will offer guidance on family history
research.
Normal
hours of operation: Daily 10:00-4:00
Gold Country Medical History Museum
219
Maple St., Auburn
Restored Victorian building is on
the site of the original Placer County hospital. See medical, dental and
nursing implements, equipment, furnishings, pharmaceuticals, ephemera, and a
collection of “quackery”. They offer demonstrations of quackery, tours and
interpretation of artifacts.
Normal
hours of operation: Saturdays 11:00-3:00, April-October.
The Joss House Museum and Chinese
History Center
200
Sacramento St., Auburn
530-823-0373
Built
in the early 1920s by Charles Yue, leader of local Tong association and
community steward for the Auburn Chinese population, the “Joss House” began as
a boarding house but was soon converted to the Ling Ying Association (Brave
Heroes) meeting place. Here the (c.1880) original Altar was transferred from a
previous joss house and placed into service. ‘Charlie’ also established
Auburn’s only Chinese school where his children and others of the community
could learn to read, write and translate Chinese, as well as study the history
and culture of China. The “Joss House” also served as a meeting place and a
hostel for transient Chinese from the early 1920s to the late 1960s.
Normal hours of operation: Open most Saturdays 10:30-4:00
July 13th 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Maidu Museum & Historic Site
1970
Johnson Ranch Dr., Roseville
Explore site where Valley Nisenan
Maidu Indians lived for thousands of years; discover native plants and over 400
bedrock-grinding holes; experience unique and rare sandstone petroglyphs;
hand-on children’s activities, guided tours at 10:00 and 1:00, and an
indigenous art gallery. Gift Shop offers a wide selection of books about Native
Californians, handmade jewelry, minerals, arrowheads and snacks & drinks.
Normal
hours of operation: Saturdays 9:00-4:00
Roseville Telephone Museum
106
Vernon St., Roseville
The Roseville Telephone Museum has one of the
most extensive collections of antique telephones and memorabilia in the nation.
The exhibits in the 4,500 square-foot museum chronicle and celebrate more than
a century of communications technology in Roseville as well as nationally and
internationally. A visit to the Roseville Telephone Museum makes a fun and
educational family outing, a great school field trip or a group sight-seeing
tour destination. Our museum docents are current and retired employees who are
passionate about telephone history and volunteer their time to share it with
visitors of all ages. Presented by Consolidated Communications, this museum
offers rare collectible and historical telephones, a working telegraph, and
hands-on demonstrations of an early switchboard.
Normal Hours of Operation: First Saturday of the month
10:00 – 2:00.
Roseville Historical Society
Carnegie Museum
557
Lincoln St., Roseville
The
Roseville Historical Society's Carnegie Museum and Archives is filled with
artifacts and ephemera of Roseville's past! We highlight our train display, a
massive "N" gauge model railroad depicting Roseville's Old Town and
peeks into our turn-of-the-century past. We also feature the pioneer
Roseville Fiddyment family, beginning with matriarch Elizabeth Jane and the
next several generations who worked the land and used its resources to make a
living. The featured display this year is the “Rail of Two Cities”, which
depicts the Transcontinental Railroad through Rocklin and Roseville.
Normal
hours of operation: Tuesday thru Friday 10:00- 2:00; 2nd Saturdays
10:00-2:00.
July 20th
The Wheatland History Museum 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
111 Main St. Wheatland, CA
The primary purpose of the Wheatland Historical
Society is to discover, collect, preserve, and disseminate knowledge concerning
the history of the Wheatland area in the County of Yuba and the State of
California.
Normal
hours of operation: Open 1st and 3rd Saturdays from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Lincoln Area Archives Museum 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
640
Fifth St., Lincoln
View Nisenan artifacts, Gladding
McBean & Co. photographs, a gold scale from the Van Trent Mine, military
uniforms and artifacts and Chinese baskets.
Also on display are a restored buggy and a grain scale from the local
Walter Jansen & Son. Miss Katy will
be showing off her fabulous late 1800s kitchen and come see the Lincoln Depot
replica – it’s wonderful!. Beverages and cookies available.
Normal
hours of operation: Tuesday through Saturday 11:00-3:00.
July 27th
8:00 am – 12:00 pm
Fruitvale School
3425
Fruitvale Rd., Lincoln
Witness the education that farm
children received 100 years ago in a one room school house in rural Lincoln.
Experience hands-on Living History activities and be sure to bring your picnic
basket and enjoy lunch on the grounds!
Normal
hours of operation: Open by appointment only.
August 3rd 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Colfax Area Heritage Museum
99
Railroad St., Colfax
Experience exhibits on the history of the
railroad, gold mining, pioneer life, as well as collections of Maidu Indian and
Chinese artifacts. Drinks and snacks will be available. Enter a drawing
for books on Donner Pass and Railroads of Placer County by local authors Roger
Stabb and Jack Duncan.
Normal
hours of operation: 10:00 -3:00 Monday-Saturday
Golden Drift Museum
32820
Main St., Dutch Flat
Visit the best preserved Gold Rush town in
Placer County. View exhibits on nearby
towns, hydraulic mining, the railroad, the Towle Lumber Company, the Maidu
Indians, and the Chinese.
Guided walking tour of Dutch Flat at 10:00am
followed by Cemetery Tour at 11:30am. In
celebration of the Lincoln Highway and Highway 40 there will be a handout
available with a map and list of local points of interest where the routes run
through this area.
Free refreshments.
Normal
hours of operation: Memorial Day- thru the end of September: Friday – Sunday
12:00-4:00 (open summer holidays)
Donner Summit Historical Society
Museum
21501
Donner Pass Rd., Soda Springs
Donner Summit is the richest
historical area in California: first wagon trains, first transcontinental
railroad, highway, telephone line, and air route. Lincoln Highway and Historic Highway 40 talk
by Norm Saylor at 1:30 pm.
Normal
hours of operation: Saturday and Sunday 10:00-4:00
August 10th&
11th 9:30 am
Donner
Summit Hike.
Margie Powell was the
inspiration for the Donner Summit Historical Society. In her memory we’ve held
annual Margie Powell hikes in August. On this, our eighth year, we're going to go down Summit Canyon:
This hike is all downhill. We will
park some cars at the end and then shuttle back uphill. This hike will
start with an overview of Donner Summit history - the most historically
significant square mile in California and maybe the entire Western United
States. That overview has the most magnificent
view! We’ll talk about the firsts: first transcontinental railroad, first
transcontinental highway, first transcontinental air route, first
transcontinental telephone line, and the first wagon trains to California.
We’ll see ads painted on the rocks 100 years ago and we’ll see petroglyphs
incised into the granite 2-4,000 years ago. We’ll have great views and
lots of great stories. The hike is illustrated so there will be lots of old
photographs. It’s the same hike both days. The hike is three miles long. Do not
consider going on this hike unless you are nimble because there are parts where
we’ll have to scramble over some rocks since there is no trail. Meet at 9:30 am each day at the Donner
Ski Ranch parking lot (19320 Donner Pass Road) and bring a hat, good shoes,
sunscreen, water, camera, lunch, and curiosity.
August 17th 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Truckee Old Jail Museum
10142
Jibboom St. Truckee
View exhibits on the history of the
jail and a wide variety of local artifacts and photographs. You will see relics from other important industries
including lumbering, box manufacturing and ice harvesting. Other exhibits pay
tribute to the film industry, which thrived in Truckee during the 1920's along
with gambling and bootlegging. Also exhibited are artifacts from the
Truckee's early winter sports era, including early skiing equipment.
Normal hours
of operation: Summer, Saturday & Sunday 10:00 – 4:00
Truckee Railroad Museum
10075
Donner Pass Rd., Truckee
Inside the museum are stories, pictures,
recreations, and railroad artifacts depicting the impact of railroads in the formation
and development of Truckee. The First Transcontinental Railroad, Logging
Railroads, and Tourism by Rail all played an important part in Truckee’s
history.
Normal hours
of operation: Saturdays & Sundays 10:00 – 4:00
August 24th
8:00 am – 12:00 pm
DeWitt History Museum
2985
Richardson Dr., Auburn
View exhibits on the history of the
DeWitt Government Center from its inception as a World War II Army Hospital,
its use as a State Mental Hospital and finally its use as a Placer County
Government Center. Displays will also cover the use of German Prisoners of War
from nearby Camp Flint and the Internment of Japanese-Americans. Guided Walking
Tours of the Historic DeWitt Campus at 8:30 am and 9:30 am..
Normal
hours of operation: Wednesdays Noon – 4:00 pm.
Placer County Museums Archives and
Collections Facility
11526
C Ave., Auburn
View exhibits in the foyer or go on
a guided tour to see where we store thousands of artifacts, documents, historic
ledgers and photographs.
Normal
hours of operation: Mon.-Tues & Fri. 9:00 – 3:00
August 31st
& September 1st 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Forest Hill Divide Museum
24601
Harrison St., Foresthill
Watch blacksmiths craft period
tools, view exhibits on mining, Native American Heritage, the lumber industry,
fires & firefighting and life in the Victorian era. Hands-on activities for kids, craft and food
booths, gold panning demonstrations, lumberjack contest, and visitors can watch
the State Gold Panning championships. Visitors can also enjoy the re-enactments
of the California Rangers as the Tombstone Cowboys. They are combining the
Heritage Trail with their annual Heritage Festival.
Normal
hours of operation: Memorial Day thru Labor Day Saturdays & Sundays
12:00-4:00
September 7th 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Sierra College Natural History
Museum 10:00 am - Noon
5000
Rocklin Rd., Rocklin
Enjoy exhibits on contemporary
nature in our region as well as fossils of life that lived millions of years
ago. Enjoy the special program “In Their Footsteps: Trace Fossils and Tracks”.
Normal
hours of operation: Open when school is in session; first Saturday of the month
10:00 am - Noon.
Sesquicentennial
of the Transcontinental Railroad Events
June 22, Historical Talk: The Chinese and their
importance to the Railroad. Presented by Bill George at the Donner State
Memorial Park Visitors Center - 5:00 pm.
June 29, Historical Talk: Snow Sheds-Fires and other
Related Subjects at the Tahoe Truckee Airport Conference Room. Presented by
Bill Oudegeest of the Donner Summit Historical Society – 7:00 pm.
July 27, Historical Talk: Logging Railroads.
Presented by Nelson Van Gundy at the Truckee Tahoe Airport Conference Room. A
discussion on how the logging industry was tied to the development of the
Railroad and the surrounding areas – 7:00pm.
August 3, Historical Talk: Truckee Lake Tahoe
Railway presented by Jerry Blackwill at the Truckee Tahoe Airport Conference
Room. Discussion regarding the History of the Truckee Lake Tahoe Railway and
the impact of creating tourism for the Lake Tahoe Basin – 7:00pm.
August 31: Our final goodbye to the Celebration of the
Transcontinental Railroad will be held at the Regional Park Railroad Terminus
in the Truckee River Regional Park. Plans are still being finalized but the
vision is a wonderful day at the park riding the trains, eating lunch, kids
playing and lots of history discussions! There will be CAKE and BBQ Truckee Style
– 11:00am – 3:00pm.
Complete
list of events are two posts below this one.
Museum Calendar of Events
Outside of Heritage Trail
July 6, Gathering at The Gatekeeper’s Join us
for the annual Gathering at The Gatekeeper’s dinner with silent and live
auction. Catered by Big Blue Q. 4-8pm. Reservations required by June 29. $85
per person.
July 17, Donner Summit Train Tunnel Hike Will
review the early exploration of the Central Pacific Railroad route and the
subsequent construction of the line over the Sierras. Bring lunch, water,
camera, hiking poles, and sunscreen.
About 2.5 miles. Meet in
Gatekeeper’s Museum parking lot at 8:30am.
August 1, 46th Annual Home Tour Join us
for our annual tour of unique and historic Tahoe homes. This year features
houses in the Rubicon area of Lake Tahoe. Catered reception. 12-4pm.
August 21, Truckee River Canyon
Railroad Hike Will follow the new hiking/bike trail route from Floriston to
Farad along the Truckee River below Hirschdale.
We will follow the old Floriston/Reno water flume and rail line,
discussing both the rail and flume history. Bring lunch, water, camera, hiking
stick, and sunscreen. About 2.8
miles. Will carpool from end of trail
back to the trailhead. Meet at
Gatekeeper’s Museum parking lot at 8:30am.
October 6: Old Auburn Cemetery Tour 1:30pm - 3:30pm. Call 530-889-6500 for more information.
Get-Up-And-Go Cards
You can pick-up your Get-Up-And-Go cards at the first
Heritage Trail Day (June 15th) from the Bernhard Museum, Benton
Welty School Room or the Gold Rush Museum.
After that day, you can pick up Get-Up-And-Go cards from any
participating museum. You can pick up
cards and get them stamped on any day
the museum is open throughout the summer.
This year, it will take 8 stamps on your card to enter the drawing for a
gift basket. Please remember that you can only play one Get-Up-And-Go card at a
time. You are free to start another card
once you have turned in a fully stamped card. Cards must be turned in by 4:00
pm by September 7th at any participating museum.
Thank
you to our sponsors!
Auburn Parlor #59 and Silver Star Parlor #63 (Lincoln)
1869
– 2019
The
150th anniversary of the completion of the Transcontinental
Railroad!
A full list of sesquicentennial events are two posts below this one!
