Culture
Richard “Uncle Fuzzy” Mason, Gold Rush Ambassador and Placerville Icon, Dies at 80
Richard “Uncle Fuzzy” Mason, the bearded gold panning ambassador who helped preserve El Dorado County’s Gold Rush identity, has died...
Sam’s Town Still Lives in the Memories of El Dorado County
Long before Forklift Market stood in Cameron Park, Sam’s Town was the beating heart of Highway 50 travel culture —...
Memorial Day in El Dorado County: A Time for Celebration, Reflection and Remembering the Fallen
Memorial Day weekend brings travel and celebration to El Dorado County, but community leaders remind residents to honor the fallen...
Gold, Deer Meat and Destiny: How Mormon Island Rose From a Campfire on the American River
A deer supper beside the South Fork of the American River in 1848 helped ignite one of El Dorado County’s...
Placerville’s Lost Chinatown Lives Again Through New Museum Exhibit
Placerville’s forgotten Chinatown once stood where Benham Park is today. A new museum exhibit is bringing its story back to...
The Road They Built by Hand: How 46 Mormon Pioneers Carved a Wagon Trail Across the Sierra in 1848
Armed with axes, crowbars, and raw determination, 46 Mormon pioneers carved the first practical wagon road across the Sierra Nevada...
Historic Photo of Old Placerville Sparks Debate Over Date and Downtown Landmarks
A rare photo of Old Placerville has locals debating its exact date—clues in power lines, dirt streets, and the missing...
Coloma’s Last Chinatown Landmarks Still Standing: Chinese Store Ruins Preserve Gold Rush Legacy
Coloma’s last Chinatown landmarks still stand. Discover how two stone buildings survived the 1883 fire—and what they reveal about El...
