Things to do
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Museums Museums are FUN and FREE! Where else can you go to interact with history? From research and guided tours to hearing Gold Rush era music and coming face to face with one hundred year old objects, your journey to the past begins right here, with a click of the mouse. Explore our website and plan a visit to any of our museums or facilities – experience history today! Roseville Telephone Co. Museum 106 Vernon Street With exhibits detailing the history of telephone communications and of the Roseville Telephone Company, this museum offers a portrayal of an often-overlooked aspect of our past. Displays include old-style switchboards and telephones; models range to present day. Maidu Museum and Historic Site 1960 Johnson Ranch Drive Guided museum tours, changing exhibits, summer campfires, and programs teach the wisdom of an ancient culture. The nature area is dotted with oak trees and offers a loop trail that takes you past ancient petroglyphs (rock art) and hundreds of bedrock mortars (acorn grinding holes), which provide evidence of the native people, the NIsenan or "Southern Maidu", who were the original residents of the site. 557 Lincoln Street Roseville's first permanent library was constructed in 1912 with Lincoln-made brick, terra cotta from Gladding McBean and granite from Rocklin. The library was funded in part by Andrew Carnegie. In 1979 Roseville moved its main library to a new location and the Roseville Historical Society set up the museum which houses a music room with instruments from 1865-1926 and an airplane collection of 80 models ranging from the 1920s to the World War II era. Also on display is a model of the Sacramento Northern Street Car Line. Sierra College Museum of Natural History 5000 Rocklin Road Located in Rocklin, Sierra College has a museum of Natural History which houses biology exhibits of North American mammals, marine mammals, Eurasian mammals and African mammals. They also have paleontology and geology exhibits and several nature trails that wind through the local woodland. The most popular trail starts from the northeast corner of parking lot K off of Sierra College Blvd. Rocklin History Museum and Old St. Mary's Chapel 3895 Rocklin Road Go back in time to relive and explore Rocklin's history of Rocks, Rails and Ranches. See the tools and images from the time when Rocklin was the "Granite Capitol of the West". The Central Pacific Rocklin Roundhouse provided engines to power the Transcontinentl Railroad over the high Sierra in 1869 . Discover the remarkable story of the 27,000 acre Spring Valley Ranch . The museum is located in the building previously known as the Fletcher-Moon House. Built in 1883 at St. Mary's of the Assumption Catholic Church, the 125 year old building was abandoned and in abject disrepair. Today it is restored to beyond it original condition in 1883. It is now "Old St. Mary's Chapel" and is used for wedding ceremonies, receptions, concerts and other gatherings It is located at 5251 Front Street, Rocklin. (916) 415-1150. Placer County Courthouse Museum 101 Maple Street The courthouse, completed in 1898, is truly representative of the rich natural resources that have brought prosperity to Placer County. It was constructed of marble from Colfax, granite from Rocklin, slate from Slatington, and lime and bricks from Auburn. The museum, home to the Pate Collection of Native American artifacts, is located on the first floor of the Courthouse. The Gold Collection is housed in the lower vault inside the former Treasurer's Office. An information center is located on the first floor. Gold Country Fairgrounds This museum chronicles the rich history of gold mining in the region. Exhibits include gold panning demonstrations with an opportunity for hands-on panning, a walk through a mine shaft, an operational stamp mill model, and displays showing the lifestyle of gold country residents during the Gold Rush. 291 Auburn-Folsom Road This complex was built as an inn in 1851 called Travelers Rest. The house, one of the oldest wooden structures in Placer County, was added c. 1868. Now restored, the house is furnished with late Victorian pieces. Also located here is an 1874 winery, one of the first in the state. Joss House Museum and Chinese History Center Corner of Sacramento Street and Brewery Lane The Joss House is currently undergoing restoration. The original temple altar is preserved in this Chinese house of worship, and on display are artifacts representative of the lives of the Chinese people during the Gold Rush. 219 Maple Street The first hospital in Placer County was established in 1855 in a building at 219 Maple Street, Auburn by a $1400 grant from the State of California to care for the indigent. This stately Victorian has now been returned to its medical roots as a history museum displaying the course of medical care in knowledge from the Gold Rush era to the mid 20th Century. Colfax Heritage Museum 99 Railroad Street This Heritage Museum is housed in the old Colfax Depot which has been completely remodeled. The museum will take you back in time with exhibits of days gone by. Foresthill Divide Museum and Leroy Botts Memorial Park 24601 Harrison Street Museum displays portray the history of the Foresthill and Iowa Hill Divides and include a model of the Foresthill Logging Company, firefighting equipment, blacksmith shop, jail, depictions of life during the Gold Rush and early modes of transportation. Griffith Quarry Park and Museum Corner of Taylor & Rock Springs Roads A major supplier of granite for many of California’s buildings, including the State Capitol in Sacramento, Griffith Quarry’s history dates back to its founding in 1864. The museum houses exhibits reflecting the history of the granite industry in this region. The park boasts three miles of nature trails that offer views of the old quarry sites. 32820 Main Street In a village that makes visitors feel transported to an earlier era, this museum tells the story of the area encompassing Dutch Flat, Gold Run, Alta and Towle. The exhibits explore the history of these communities and of the mining and railroad industries in the region. Open summer only. Tahoe City Gatekeeper's and Indian Basket Museum 130 West Lake Blvd. The Gatekeeper's Museum, situated among ancient conifers on the south bank of Lake Tahoe's only outlet, was built in 1981 with funds raised by the North Lake Tahoe Historical Society. The hand-carved log cabin is built from Lodgepole pines. It stands on the same foundation as the original Gatekeeper's Cabin which was destroyed by arson in 1978. The museum features the history of Lake Tahoe including Indian artifacts, natural history displays, stories of our pioneers and the Ellen Attardi Library. It also houses the Marion Steinback Indian Basket Collection. Tahoe City Watson Cabin Living Museum 560 North Lake Blvd. Overlooking Lake Tahoe and the Commons Beach in Tahoe City is an unimposing little log cabin of significant historical interest. It still stands on the originial site where it was built of local logs and is an outstanding example of turn-of-the-century log cabin construction in the Lake Tahoe region. Robert Montgomery Watson and his youngest son, Robert Watson started the cabin in 1908. It was completed for the wedding of the son and Stella Tong in l909. Big Bend Ranger Station In May of 1844 a party of 46 men, women and children with 11 wagons left Council Bluffs, Iowa and pioneered the first wagon trail to California over the Sierra. A Paiute Native American named Chief Truckee guided them by way of what is now Donner Pass. You can embark on a journey that will give you a glimpse of life as it was for the pioneers who immigrated to California more than 160 years ago. During the summer walking tours of the trails and winter campsite of the pioneers are given weekly at the Big Bend Visitor Center. 5205 West Lake Blvd. The Tahoe Maritime Museum, modeled after a historic wooden boathouse on the West Shore of Lake Tahoe, offers visitors a varied collection of photographs and other memorabilia that date back to the 19th century. Not only does the museum house an extensive history of all types of boating around Lake Tahoe. It is also home to the largest collection of outboard motors on the West Coast. Perhaps the biggest highlight of the museum is the display of wooden hulled ski boats -- Chris Craft, Gar Wood and Stephens, to name a few. Museums in Sacramento The Discovery Museum Space and Science Center 2200 Front Street Sacramento, CA 95818 (916) 442-6802 California State Indian Museum 2618 K Street Sacramento, CA 95816 (916) 324-0971 Museums in the Bay Area
Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center Santa Rosa, California 95403 (707) 579-4452
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