Gold Rush History in Auburn
Auburn combines Gold Rush history with trails and river scenery, but offers different highlights rather than a single sightseeing itinerary. The city was founded in 1848 during the California Gold Rush; in May of that same year, Claude Chana found gold in the Auburn area. Old Town Auburn preserves architecture from the 1850s. This sequence of events gives the historic district a clear framework: from its founding during the Gold Rush to the buildings from the following decade that have been preserved.
A Saturday in Old Town
Every Saturday at 10:00 a.m., docent-led tours of Old Town Auburn depart from the Historic Courthouse; they run in all weather. A farmers market also takes place in Old Town Auburn year-round on Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to noon. The times overlap: if you are considering both, the tour starts while the market is open. The market gets the morning started earlier, while the tour offers a set starting point and a guided perspective on the district.
Museums and Historical Insights
The museums also explore different aspects of the past. The Benton Welty Historic Classroom is a classroom from 1916 that was formerly used by Auburn Grammar School. The Joss House Museum offers a look at a Chinese boardinghouse, meeting place, school, and lodging house from the early 20th century. Historical newspaper printing presses can be seen at the Auburn Journal Newspaper Mini Museum. The selection thus ranges from a specific classroom to the Joss House’s various historical functions and the technology of newspaper printing. You can choose what to focus on based on which of these stories you would like to learn more about.
Annual Events
The Cemetery Tour at Old Auburn Cemetery takes place annually in October. A map guides visitors through the cemetery, and reenactors portray historical figures. The Gold Country Fair is an annual fair held in Auburn at the Gold Country Fairgrounds in September; the exact dates vary from year to year. If you plan to attend either event, check the date for the relevant year in advance. These experiences therefore differ from the Saturday offerings: planning depends on the month and specific date, not just a recurring day of the week.
Trails and River Scenery
The Auburn State Recreation Area extends for 40 miles along the North Fork and Middle Fork of the American River. Hidden Falls Regional Park offers more than 30 miles of nature trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Another more clearly defined option is the Hidden Falls Access Trail: this three-mile loop leads to waterfalls and viewpoints. The three figures refer to different things: 40 miles describes the extent of the Recreation Area along the rivers, more than 30 miles refers to the park’s trail network, and three miles is the length of a specific loop. This distinction can help you choose among the river area, the trail network, and a specifically described loop. Hiking, biking, and horseback riding are explicitly listed for the park; waterfalls and viewpoints describe the destination of the named trail.
Discover more destinations: Carnelian Bay, Emigrant Gap, Rocklin, Tahoe City, Tahoe Vista, Homewood, Dollar Point, Roseville
For the main travel overview: Placer.
