Heritage Trail

Heritage Trail 2012

2012-01-27T11:48:00.000-08:00

The preparation for the 2012 Heritage Trail is well underway! The date of this year's event is going to be the weekend of August 11th and 12th. Be sure to mark that on your calendar so you won't miss it. Don't have a calendar? We can help out with that. We've got a couple different, and historically significant calendars for sale on zazzle.com. Click the link below to check them out.

Basket Winners!

2011-08-26T10:59:00.000-07:00

Below is a gallery of winners from this year’s Heritage Trail Passport drawing. These intrepid travelers visited at least four different museums to fill up their cards with stamps and turned them in. Congratulations museum lovers!

Carol

Vic, mom, and Haley the winner

Richard

Angie

Placer Produce Joins the Trail

2011-08-03T15:14:00.000-07:00

This just in, Placer GROWN has confirmed that they will be running an old fashioned farm stand out of the back of one of the wagons at the Bernhard Museum this weekend. They will be selling locally grown crops that were once produced on the Bernhard farm including peaches, berries, plums, and apricots.

The free hand cranked ice cream that will be on offer, will be flavored using Placer GROWN produce.

The Heritage Trail Prize Drawing

2011-08-01T08:31:00.000-07:00

Not only do Heritage Trail travelers get steeped in local history, but they also have a chance to win fabulous prizes. Three prize baskets will go to the winners of our drawing. To be eligible just pick up your card at any museum and get it stamped at four different museums before turning it in.

The center basket is from the Old Town Auburn Business Association and includes gift certificates from shops and restaurants, a decorated egg, sterling silver heart pendant and earrings, cookbooks, Bloody Mary mix, jewelry, lotions, hair care products, t-shirts, a purse and luggage tags, and a metal sign.

The baskets on the sides are full of items donated by all the museums on the tour. They include books, gold vials, coffee mugs, water bottles, a t-shirt, Chinese fans and pillow covers, a gift certificate for the Christmas Tree Vineyard Lodge, cross country ski passes, and products from Snow’s Citrus Court.

Hotel Discounts!

2011-07-18T13:27:00.000-07:00

Seeing as the Heritage Trail weekend is two days long, not unlike most other weekends, the good folks at Placer County Tourism have whipped up hotel packages to allow out-of-towners to enjoy both days of the event. Head over to their website to check out which hotels are offering money off for those on the Trail. They also have information on the other great attractions the south end of our county has to offer. Not that you’ll have time to check them out this weekend but, being the hospitable gold country types we are, we’d love to see you come back.

Click on the link below for details

The 2011 Trail Guide is Here!

2011-07-07T08:38:00.000-07:00

While not available in print yet, you can get the jump on the weekend by following the link below to our online version of this year’s guide. It contains maps and information about all 18 participating museums as well as trail tips and the schedule for the bus tours.

Online Trail Guide

Thanks to our Sponsors!

2011-06-30T10:18:00.000-07:00

We’d like to take a moment to thank our sponsors for this year’s heritage trail: Capital Public Radio, SureWest, Native Sons of the Golden West - Auburn Parlor #59, and County of Placer.

Come Ride With Us!

2011-06-30T09:29:00.000-07:00

(click on image above to zoom in)

Once again, we will be offering bus tours each day of the Heritage Trail weekend. These tours allow for a relaxed day of museum touring without having to worry about bothersome details like following maps and finding parking. And let's be honest, with gas prices over $3.50 a gallon this might be the best travel deal of the summer. Call 530-889-6500 and reserve a seat today as space is limited and empty seats on the bus are sure to quickly become history!

Heritage Trail Goodies

2011-06-27T09:36:00.000-07:00

In order to help celebrate the Heritage Trail weekend, we've put together a store at zazzle.com where you can order all kinds of goodies. We've got t-shirts, tote bags, and bumper stickers to help aid you in your weekend long celebration of our county's rich heritage. Follow the link below to our store.

create & buy custom products at Zazzle

The 2011 Museum Roster

2011-06-02T09:23:00.000-07:00

Below are links to the websites of the museums that will be participating in the 2011 Heritage Trail. They've been arranged by geography to make it easier for travelers to plan a weekend jam packed with maximum museum coverage.

Valley Museums - located in South Placer

Roseville Historical Society Carnegie Museum

Roseville Telephone Museum

Maidu Museum and Historic Site (Roseville)

Rocklin History Museum

Griffith Quarry Museum (Penryn)

Auburn Museums - within one mile of the Historic Courthouse

Placer County Museum

Bernhard Museum Complex

Gold Country Museum

Joss House Museum

Gold Country Medical History Museum

The Benton Welty School Room

Mountain Museums - located in the Sierra Nevada and Lake Tahoe

Forest Hill Divide Museum

Colfax Area Heritage Museum

Golden Drift Museum

Donner Summit Historical Society Museum

Western SkiSport Museum (Boreal)

Gatekeeper’s Museum (Tahoe City)

Watson Cabin (Tahoe City)

For more information call 530-889-6500.

We're Gearing Up!

2011-03-22T08:30:00.000-07:00

Planning for the 2011 Heritage Trail is underway! This year's event will take place on August 6th and 7th. You can keep track of what's going on by following us here on our blog or on our facebook page.

Passport Drawing Winners!

2010-09-10T08:29:00.000-07:00

Below is a gallery of winners from this years Heritage Trail Passport drawing. To be eligible, all you had to do was have your passport stamped at four different museums and drop it in the box. Due to overwhelming support from our local merchants, our three prize baskets blossomed into five!

Christopher Shaffer

Azelie Wood and brother

Dan Wilson

Natalie & Sara Chavez

Wayne. Mooneyham

Alma Bell at the Courthouse

2010-08-19T11:15:00.000-07:00

In case you missed Joanie Maxwell's portrayal of Alma Bell at this year's Heritage Trail, below is a link to a video of her in action.

Bernhard Recipes

2010-08-13T08:21:00.000-07:00

Due to hundreds of requests over the Heritage Trail Weekend, below are the recipes for the ice cream and shortcake that was made and served at the Bernhard Museum. Bon appetite!

Ice Cream

2 Cups milk
2 Cups cream
¾ sugar
1 tsp vanilla
¼ tsp salt

Strawberry or Peach
Add to vanilla recipe:
1 cup mashed fruit
¼ cup Strawberry or apricot preserves

Shortcake Recipe

2 cups flour
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1 Tsp. salt
3 Tbsp. sugar
½ cup butter
¾ cup cream or milk

Combine dry ingredients. Cut in butter. Mix in cream. Let stand. Mix together gently. Pat out dough until about ½ -3/4 thick. Cut with biscuit cutter. Cook in hot wood stove for 12-15 minutes. (400-425 in regular oven)

Heritage Trail Press Roll

2010-08-05T15:35:00.000-07:00

Check out the following links to all the great press this event is receiving!

KCRA Chanel 3
Auburn Journal
Sacramento Bee
The Union

The Forest Hill Divide Museum

2010-08-03T08:43:00.000-07:00

Making a stop at the Forest Hill Divide museum this weekend will get you front row seats for a live blacksmithing demonstration in the museum's new blacksmith shop. You can also try your hand at gold panning and sample some Indian fry bread. Like all Heritage Trail museum events, it's all free. (Breathtaking scenic drive also included.)

The Joss House

2010-07-30T15:01:00.000-07:00

Visitors to the Old Town Auburn Joss House can enjoy having their fortune told using Chinese fortune sticks. Your future will almost certainly be tasty since the Joss house will be handing out coupons for free samples of ice cream at Old Town Dessert Café.

New Bus Trip Just Added!

2010-07-09T11:13:00.000-07:00

We're happy to announce we've just confirmed a third bus trip for the Mountain Museums. The cost of the Summit-Lake Bus Tour runs on Saturday the 7th and is $10.00. Unlike the other trips, a box lunch will not be available, so everyone is going to have to pack their own. For more info, or to make reservations, call 530-889-6500.

"Summit-Lake” Saturday Bus Tour
The tour will stop at the following museums:
Donner Summit Historical Society
Ski Sport
Arrive Gatekeepers - Lunch Stop
Arrive at Watson Cabins
Fee: $10.00
Depart: 9:45 Sugar Bowl Parking lot (1st lot on your right)
Return: 2:45 Sugar Bowl Parking lot (1st lot on your right)

Online Trail Guides are Here!

2010-07-08T16:02:00.000-07:00

In order to help you plan out your own Heritage Trail route, we've uploaded our trail guide. Click on the graphics below to get info on all 19 museums and their events.

Get on the Bus!

2010-07-08T11:51:00.000-07:00

To make reservations for the Heritage Trail Mountain or Valley Bus Tour call 530-889-6500. This year Tsuda’s old Town Eatery will be taking your lunch order, boxing it up and bringing it to the bus for you! Call Tsuda’s to place your lunch order at 530-823-2233. You can also pack your own picnic lunch. Either way you will need food for the journey as there is no lunch available on the trail.

“Discover the Mountains” Saturday Bus Tour
This tour will stop at the following museums:
Big Bend Visitor Center
Golden Drift Museum - Lunch Stop
Colfax Area Heritage Museum
Forest Hill Divide Museum
Fee: $10.00
Depart : 9:00 Gold Country Fairgrounds
Return: 4:30 Gold Country Fairgrounds

“Explore the Valley” Sunday Bus Tour
This tour will stop at the following museums:
Griffith Quarry Museum
Maidu Museum -Lunch Stop
Roseville Historical Society Carnegie Museum
Roseville Telephone Museum
Rocklin Historical Society
Fee: 10.00
Depart : 9:45 Gold Country Fairgrounds
Return: 4:15 Gold Country Fairgrounds

Gather and GO!

2010-07-07T15:52:00.000-07:00

Are you always looking for a chance to show off your ride, rev up your bike or just take a drive? The Heritage Trail is the perfect excuse to get out on the road and enjoy Placer County. This year two sites have been designated so that like minded travelers can caravan from site to site. The place and time are set but the rest is up to you. Meet someone new and plan a route on the spot, or just follow along and let the adventure begin!

10:00 Saturday: Gold Country Fairground
parking lot off of Auburn-Folsom Rd. in Auburn

10:00 Sunday: Maidu Museum
Parking Lot at 1960 Johnson Ranch Drive in Roseville

Pick up your trail guide at any of our 19 participating museums or print it out it now!

Breaking Rock at the Rocklin History Musem

2010-07-07T08:57:00.000-07:00

In order to better illustrate how the town of Rocklin got its name, Roy Ruhkala will be performing an old fashioned, hand powered, granite splitting presentation at the Rocklin History museum on Saturday at 10:30 and Sunday at 2:30 for the Heritage Trail weekend.

2010 Sponsors

2010-06-29T12:23:00.000-07:00

While we've got history to spare, it takes a bit more than that to make an event like the Heritage Trail happen. To that end we'd like to give a big thank you to our sponsors for this year's event.

Heritage Trail Special Events!

2010-06-23T13:46:00.000-07:00

One thing museums like to do for the Heritage Trail weekend is offer special events. Every week until August we'll be highlighting the special offerings you can take part in at participating museums. With guided tours, living history, live music, root beer floats, hand cranked ice cream, storytellers, fry bread and much more, this weekend promises to be an adventure filled with new experiences and plenty of snacks!

The Heritage Trail Bus Tour

2010-06-14T09:12:00.000-07:00

Reservations for the always sold out Heritage Trail Bus Tour will open for sign-ups on July 5th. For more information and reservations call 530-889-6500.

Heritage Trail Museums on Google Maps

2010-06-14T08:25:00.000-07:00

To help our visitors get to as many of Placer County's finest museums as possible, we have created a Google map which includes the location of every participating museum as well as information about what each of them have to offer.

To get there, click on the map below.

Heritage Trail 2010

2010-05-12T11:41:00.000-07:00

The 3rd annual Heritage Trail will be held on August 7 & 8, 2010. Nineteen participating museums from Roseville to Tahoe are committed to showcasing history in a fun, entertaining way. All of the museums will be open from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on both days with FREE admittance.

The tour promises to be a family-friendly event with many hands-on activities for all ages. Visitors can bake biscuits in an 1890s wood stove, jump to the finish line in an old fashioned sack race, explore the wonders of a granite quarry, view the world from a 19th century stage coach, pan for illusive flakes of gold, and listen to Native American stories. Trail Guides will be available at every museum in July and on our website.

For the most up to date information on the weekend activities visit our website and our Facebook page.

The museums are listed from West to East, and are easy to reach from I-80.

Valley Museums - located in South Placer

Roseville Historical Society Carnegie Museum

Roseville Telephone Museum

Maidu Museum and Historic Site (Roseville)

Rocklin History Museum

Griffith Quarry Museum (Penryn)

Auburn Museums - within one mile of the Historic Courthouse

Placer County Museum

Bernhard Museum Complex

Gold Country Museum

Joss House Museum

Gold Country Medical History Museum

The Benton Welty School Room

Mountain Museums - located in the Sierra Nevada and Lake Tahoe

Forest Hill Divide Museum

Colfax Area Heritage Museum

Golden Drift Museum

Big Bend Ranger Station

Donner Summit Historical Society Museum

Western SkiSport Museum (Boreal)

Gatekeeper’s Museum (Tahoe City)

Watson Cabin (Tahoe City)

For more information call 530-889-6500.

Heritage Trail 2009 Wrap Up

2009-09-25T09:00:00.000-07:00

In an attempt to take in as much Placer County history as humanly possible, hundreds of modern day pioneers trekked from the valley to the sierras, one museum at a time. It was a weekend of discovery and family with plenty of great picnicking weather to boot.

Volunteers at all 18 museums were up to the task of sharing their specialties with an eager public whose thirst for family fun and learning was near unquenchable.

In honor of those who rode the trail this year and couldn’t get enough, and for those who missed it, the collective museums of Placer County are committed to putting on the event once again, and are already making preparations for the Heritage Trail 2010. That’ll make three years in a row, which categorically changes it from an event to a tradition.

Thanks to all the volunteers, participants, and Placer County history itself, for making the 2009 Heritage Trail weekend a rousing success.

A- Tisket -a –Tasket, I want to win that Picnic Basket!

2009-07-29T14:25:00.000-07:00

To encourage everyone to slow down and enjoy the historical gems of Placer County we are giving away three grand prize picnic baskets full of prizes to those who visit four or more museums. It’s free! Simply pick up a “Get Up and Go Card,” have it stamped at four museums and deposit your ticket at any of the 18 museums. Winners will be drawn at the end of the weekend and need not be present to win. Get Up and Go Cards are available at all museum sites.

In addition to the three Grand Prizes each museum has created their own picnic baskets full of treats, books, gift certificates and more. Drawing tickets can be purchased for $1.00 each or 6 for $5.00. After purchasing your ticket deposit it at the museum that has your favorite basket and you are eligible to win that prize too!

Heritage Trail Promo Video

2009-07-17T14:50:00.000-07:00

Catch a glimpse into the sights and sounds of the upcoming Heritage Trail 2009 with our brand new video.

Click Here to check it out!

Bus Tours!

2009-07-13T09:22:00.000-07:00

A Heritage Trail bus and van tour will depart daily from Auburn.

On the Saturday bus trip, Trail Travelers will visit the Golden Drift Museum, Colfax Area Heritage Museum, Forest Hill Divide Museum, and the Griffith Quarry Museum. On Sunday, the bus will travel west and make stops at the Rocklin History Museum, Fruitvale School, Roseville Telephone Museum, Roseville Historical Society Carnegie Museum, and the Maidu Interpretive Center.

On both days, the van tour will explore sections of the Lincoln Highway and visit the Gatekeeper’s Museum and Watson Cabin in Tahoe City and the SkiSport Museum.

A picnic stop is planned for all tours and participants can order a box lunch or bring a picnic. All tours cost $10.00.

Reservations and advanced payment are required.
Please call 530-889-6500 to reserve a seat.

2009 Trail Guide

2009-07-07T16:06:00.000-07:00

For your road tripping convienence, we have prepared a printable PDF of our trail guide in a handy fits-in-your-glove-box size. Just click on the image below to access the file. Trail guides will also be available at all 18 participating museums.

Heritage Trail Map

2009-06-01T14:09:00.000-07:00

To help our visitors get to as many of Placer County's finest museums as possible, we have created a road map which includes the location of every participating museum as well as information about what each of them have to offer.

To follow the trail, Click on the map below

18 Great Stops on the Heritage Trail!

2009-05-08T08:27:00.000-07:00

The 2nd annual Heritage Trail will be held on August 8 & 9, 2009. Once again 18 participating museums from Roseville to Tahoe are committed to showcasing history in a fun, entertaining way. All the museums will be open from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on both days and admittance is FREE. The theme this year is A-Tisket A-Tasket . Bring your picnic basket. We encourage Trail Travelers to bring a picnic and eat at one of the museums designated for picnics.

The tour promises to be a family-friendly event with many hands-on activities for all ages. Visitors can bake biscuits in an 1890s wood stove, jump to the finish line in an old fashioned sack race, explore the wonders of a granite quarry, view the world from a 19thc stage coach, pan for illusive flakes of gold, and listen to Native American stories. Trail Guides will be available at every museum in July and on our website. For the most up to date information on the weekend activities visit our website www.placer.ca.gov/museum and blog www.placercountymuseums.blogspot.com .

The museums are grouped in four clusters, and are easy to reach from I-80.

Valley Museums - located in South Placer
Roseville Historical Society Carnegie Museum
Roseville Telephone Museum
Maidu Interpretive Center (Roseville)
Rocklin History Museum
Griffith Quarry Museum (Penryn)
Fruitvale School (Lincoln)

Auburn Museums - within one mile of the Historic Courthouse
Placer County Museum
Bernhard Museum Complex
Gold Country Museum
Joss House Museum
Gold Country Medical History Museum
The Benton Welty School Room

Foothill Museums - located higher in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada
Forest Hill Divide Museum
Colfax Area Heritage Museum
Golden Drift Museum

Mountain Museums - located at the crest of the Sierra Nevada and Lake Tahoe
Western SkiSport Museum (Boreal)
Gatekeeper’s Museum (Tahoe City)
Watson Cabin (Tahoe City)

For more information call 530-889-6500.

Heritage Trail 2009

2009-03-10T16:15:00.000-07:00

Last year was the inaugural year for The Heritage Trail event. It took place on August 9th and 10th and included 18 museums in Placer County. Our goal was to create an event that focused on the history of the county and encouraged participants to visit multiple museums in two days. The response to the event exceeded our expectations so we are planning the 2nd annual Heritage Trail on August 8 & 9, 2009.

Once again 18 participating museums from Roseville to Tahoe are committed to showcasing history in a fun, entertaining way. All the museums will be open from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on both days and admittance is FREE. The tour promises to be a family-friendly event with many hands-on activities for all ages. It is a chance to take a trip back in time and get a better understanding of Placer County’s rich, colorful history. Visitors will learn more about the pivotal role our county played in important events such as the California Gold Rush, construction of the First Transcontinental Railroad and the development of the recreation industry in the Sierra Nevada.

For more informaion,

call the Placer County Museums office at 530-889-6500