"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
Old 1888 Map & Main Street Landmarks Display Legend of "Walk Old Placerville" Since 1998
Old Map & Photo Display Located at Kirk/Old City Hall Lot
El Dorado County Court House
I.O.O.F.: Morning Star Lodge #20
El Dorado County Court House
#1. 495 Main Street. Building began in 1911 and was completed in 1912.
Placerville Old City Hall
I.O.O.F.: Morning Star Lodge #20
El Dorado County Court House
#2. (Confidence Engine House 1860 and the Jane Stuart Building 1859) 487 Main Street.
I.O.O.F.: Morning Star Lodge #20
I.O.O.F.: Morning Star Lodge #20
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)
I.O.O.F.: Morning Star Lodge #20
#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
The Fountain & Tallman Building
The Hangman's Tree
#8. 305 Main Street. Historical Landmark #141 Built in 1852. Site of the famous hangman's tree.
Cary House Hotel
The Fountain & Tallman Building
The Hangman's Tree
#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
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
Cedar Ravine Stable Building
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
Cedar Ravine Stable Building
Cedar Ravine Stable Building
#112 582 Main Street. Built in 1864.
Pearson Soda Works Building
Cedar Ravine Stable Building
Cedar Ravine Stable Building
#13 594 Main Street. Building built in 1859. Upper floor was added in 1898.
The Bell Tower
Old 1888 Map & Photo Display of Main St by Marilyn Ferguson and Josette Johnson Since 1998
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
Old 1888 Map & Photo Display of Main St by Marilyn Ferguson and Josette Johnson Since 1998
The Bell Tower
#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 Display of Main St by Marilyn Ferguson and Josette Johnson Since 1998
Old 1888 Map & Photo Display of Main St by Marilyn Ferguson and Josette Johnson Since 1998
Old 1888 Map & Photo Display of Main St by Marilyn Ferguson and Josette Johnson Since 1998
See "Tour Starts Here" on old 1888 map and photo display, since 1998, located at the public restroom in the Kirk/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://www.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” 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.
