Auburn
Gold was found near Auburn in May 1848. Originally named “Wood's Dry Diggins (some miners were not successful), Auburn grew quickly, became a mining town, trading post, and stagecoach stop. Located on Interstate 80, Auburn is one of the most easily accessible towns in California gold country.
Gold Rush Museum -
Step into the Gold Rush, with a full size diorama of a miner's camp, and flowing water. Kids can pan for gold, guaranteed to find real flakes of gold in the bag of dirt.
Walk through reconstructed mine tunnel, scenes of miners working away with sledge hammers and dynamite (sound effects add to the experience).Upstairs are exhibits about hydraulic mining (huge nozzles wash away hillside to find gold), stamp mills to crush the ore, assay office to determine gold content, abandoned ghost towns.
Gold Rush Museum (located on Lincoln Way) is free, open daily.
Placer County Museum -
On first floor of the Placer County Courthouse is the museum.Start with the Placer Gold Collection - raw gold nuggets mined in the area, pounds of gold!
On display are historic carriages (in autumn, glossy black carriage included a skeleton in driver's seat), mining tools and equipment, dioramas of Native Americans and basketry, bright red stagecoach, that carried passengers and mail from Auburn to surrounding towns.
Open daily, museum is free.
Recreation Park -
Large park has lots of grass to run around, large playground with slides, swings, climbing structures, shaded picnic tables, restrooms.
Auburn Harvest Community Festival - In autumn, kids will enjoy this fun local festival with scarecrow and giant pumpkin weighing contest, costume parade, arts and crafts, live music and food. Read our blog post: "Smiles at Auburn Community Harvest Festival"
Fun food
Farmers Market - Bounty from farms surrounding Auburn, fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, honey, jams, locally made cheeses, ice cream and yogurt, try the wood fired pizza.
Market is open Saturday, 8am - noon, year round, in parking lot on west side of Auburn Folsom Rd, at Lincoln Way.
