Wednesday, February 12, 2025
36 F
Roseville

Placer County’s Heritage Trail offers Family Fun

Discover the hidden nuggets of Placer County history by traveling the Heritage Trail.  This 2nd annual event features 18 Placer County museums located between Roseville and North Lake Tahoe.   All museums are open on the weekend of August 8th & 9th from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm and admission is free. You’ll learn about the pivotal role our county played in important events such as the California Gold Rush, the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad and later, as one of the richest fruit growing regions in the nation.

This family fun weekend is a trip back in time to Placer County’s rich and colorful history where 19th century immigrants rushed to find California’s golden nuggets, crews blasted through Sierra granite to lay track for the first Transcontinental Railroad and quarry men mined granite for famous buildings far and near. The County also shipped thousands of rail cars of fresh fruit to East Coast markets each year and welcomed world visitors to the 1960 Olympics in Squaw Valley.

‘There’s something for everyone on this travel adventure,’ said Melanie Barton, Placer County Museums Administrator and The Heritage Trail chairperson.  ‘Whether you visit one museum or all 18, you’ll find a wide variety of hands-on activities and knowledgeable volunteers waiting to share local history.’

The Heritage Trail is also a chance to enjoy old-fashioned fun. All museums will have activities for the whole family.  Children can try out sack racing, hand-cranking ice cream, churning butter and panning for gold while parents may prefer a tour of  one of the scenic Old Towns, wine tasting and checking out the 14-foot longboards that miners used to ski race at 80 miles an hour.

All 18 museums are easily accessible from Interstate 80 between Roseville and Tahoe.  Many locations have picnic areas and Trail Travelers are encouraged to pack a picnic basket and follow the history tour. 

Visitors can also elect to travel by bus or van. A bus tour and a 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 and reservations are required. 

Valley Museums include:
• Roseville Historical Society Carnegie Museum
• Maidu Interpretive Center
• Roseville Telephone Museum
• Rocklin History Museum
• Griffith Quarry Museum
• Fruitvale School

Auburn Museums include:
• Placer County Museum in the Historic Courthouse
• Gold Country Medical History Museum
• Joss House Museum;
• Bernhard Museum Complex
• Gold Country Museum
• Benton Welty Schoolroom

Foothill Museums include:
• Forest Hill Divide Museum
• Colfax Area Heritage Museum
• Golden Drift Museum

Mountain Museums include:
• Western SkiSport Museum
• Gatekeeper’s Museum
• Watson Cabin



Brighter Side

Trending

Job Opening: Sr. Manager, Data Management

5 yrs exp. design, modify, dvlp., write & implement software programming apps & code software. BS deg req’d.

LA-Z-Boy Home Furnishings & Décor in Roseville

Transform your living room and bedroom with La-Z-Boy's comfortable home furniture. Shop for sofas, couches, recliners, chairs, tables, mattress in a box, and more today.

Roseville Pleasant Grove Creek Trail closure for critical repairs

Roseville, Calif. - The trail crossing over Pleasant Grove Creek is closed for critical repairs between Old Coach Drive/Phillips Park and the Orchard View Road trailhead parking lot.

RG Philips Park in Roseville

RG Philips Park "This 6.5 acre park features a children’s...

Roseville welcomes US Quadball West Coast National Qualifier to Maidu Park

Roseville, Calif. - Quadball, an action-packed sport that evolved from the Harry Potter novels, will hold its only West Coast national qualifier Saturday, Feb. 8, and Sunday, Feb. 9 at Maidu Regional Park in Roseville.

Topics

Job Opening: Sr. Manager, Data Management

5 yrs exp. design, modify, dvlp., write & implement software programming apps & code software. BS deg req’d.

LA-Z-Boy Home Furnishings & Décor in Roseville

Transform your living room and bedroom with La-Z-Boy's comfortable home furniture. Shop for sofas, couches, recliners, chairs, tables, mattress in a box, and more today.

Roseville Pleasant Grove Creek Trail closure for critical repairs

Roseville, Calif. - The trail crossing over Pleasant Grove Creek is closed for critical repairs between Old Coach Drive/Phillips Park and the Orchard View Road trailhead parking lot.

RG Philips Park in Roseville

RG Philips Park "This 6.5 acre park features a children’s...

Roseville welcomes US Quadball West Coast National Qualifier to Maidu Park

Roseville, Calif. - Quadball, an action-packed sport that evolved from the Harry Potter novels, will hold its only West Coast national qualifier Saturday, Feb. 8, and Sunday, Feb. 9 at Maidu Regional Park in Roseville.

The Crepe Stop in Roseville

The Crepe Stop in Roseville. Savory & Sweet. Crepes, Pancakes, Waffles, Gelato, Boba Tea.

Roseville Today Super Bowl party picks for Eagles and Chiefs game

Roseville, Calif.- This Sunday at the Superdome in New Orleans, the Philadelphia take on the Chiefs in Super Bowl 59. A super-sized rematch and unofficial national holiday of $8 million dollar commercials, food and drink and a little football.

Quarry Oaks Apartments in Rocklin

Quarry Oaks Apartments in Rocklin, Calif.

Related Articles

Local Spotlight

Mobley Pest Services in Roseville serving the community and region for over 20 years

Roseville, Calif.- Fully licensed and bonded, Mobley Pest Services in Roseville has been providing reliable pest control services for well over 20 years. Serving residents and businesses in the greater Placer and Sacramento region, Mobley Pest Services is locally owned and operated in Roseville.

Making a Splash in Roseville at Steve Wallen Swim School

Roseville, Calif. - Steve Wallen Swim School in Roseville teaches swim lessons and water safety for infants, kids, and adults of all skill levels.

Stanford Ranch Family Dentistry in Rocklin serving the local community since 2000

Rocklin, Calif.- For nearly 24 years, Jason and Heather have grown their successful Stanford Ranch Family Dentistry practice by faithfully serving patients throughout the Rocklin, Roseville, and greater South Placer County region. Their business has grown to now employ over a dozen employees which helps them meet the growing demands of a successful local business.