Events & Public Programming
2026 EDCHS PROGRAMMING & EVENTS CALENDAR
January 31 -Steel Tracks, Tall Timber: Stories from the Narrow Gauge Logging Era - SOLD OUT!
February 28 - Lost Chinatowns of El Dorado County - SOLD OUT!
March 14 - Walking History Tour: Placerville’s Main Street Merchants SOLD OUT!
March 28 - Walking History Tour: Georgetown, Pride of the Mountains SOLD OUT!
April 18 - 2026 Historic Home Tour: Spring Street–Coloma Street Historic District, Placerville SOLD OUT!
May 2 - May Day Ball at the IOOF Lodge - Fundraiser in support of the conservation of the historic Morning Star Lodge
May 23 - Walking History Tour: Gold Star Veterans of Placerville’s Union Cemetery with researchers Cindy Oswald and Joseph Connolly SOLD OUT!
June 27 - Mid-Century El Dorado: A Walking History Tour of Mid-Century Architecture in El Dorado County SOLD OUT!
July 11 -Retracing the Gold Rush Emigrant Trail in El Dorado County (presented in partnership with the Oregon California Trails Association and Smokey Ridge Ranch) SOLD OUT!
July 25 - Annual Summer Potluck & Picnic
August 22 - A Healing Hand: The Goat Doctor of Mosquito Road — joint fundraiser presented in partnership with Save the Graves SOLD OUT!
October 23 & 24 - Whispers of the Past: Macabre Tales of Placerville’s Spring Street-Coloma Street Historic District
November 14 -By Popular Demand: Lost Chinatowns of El Dorado County - An intimate reprise of our sold-out spring walking history tour
December 12 & 13 - The Festival of Trees: 175 Years of Christmas Traditions
December 18 - Annual Holiday Luncheon
*All ticket sales are donations, the net proceeds of which support the EDCHS in its mission to honor the people who came before us by rescuing, preserving, researching, and displaying El Dorado County’s rich history, and to ensure that its significance will be appreciated for generations to come. Donations also help to support the operations and maintenance of the Society’s historic Fountain & Tallman Museum. If you would like to donate a different amount, please call us at ourFountain & Tallman Museum.
Experience El Dorado County's vibrant history through scholarly presentations, field hikes, and historical reenactments that educate and enlighten!
(Scroll down to purchase tickets to an upcoming event)
The El Dorado County Historical Society (EDCHS) offers a variety of engaging events that provide valuable educational experiences while fulfilling its mission to preserve and share the region's rich past. These events include:
Walking Tours: These interactive experiences transform the streets of our county’s historic towns into a living history classroom. Participants learn about the Gold Rush era, architectural styles, and the lives of early settlers through firsthand observation and engaging storytelling.
Home Tours: Stepping inside historic homes provides a unique opportunity for hands-on learning. Visitors can observe architectural details, imagine life in the past, and gain a deeper understanding of social history and cultural practices.
Speaker Series: These presentations offer in-depth insights into various aspects of local history, fostering critical thinking and historical analysis. By learning directly from experts at significant historical sites, participants gain a deeper appreciation for the complexities and nuances of the past.
By offering these diverse and engaging educational experiences, the EDCHS empowers individuals of all ages to connect with the past, develop a deeper understanding of our community's history, and become active stewards of our shared heritage.
Whispers of the Past 2026: Frequently Asked Questions
Whispers of the Past: Macabre Tales of Placerville’s Coloma-Spring Street Historic District returns this October with an entirely new route through one of Placerville’s oldest and most storied neighborhoods.
This historical walking tour explores documented tales of tragedy, misfortune, scandal, and the sometimes-unexplained experiences connected with the people and places of the Coloma-Spring Street Historic District.
EDCHS MEMBER TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE:
EDCHS members receive early access to tickets beginning Wednesday, September 16, 2026.
If you are a current member of the EDCHS, check your email for early bird ticket links.
Tickets become available to the general public on Friday, September 18, 2026.
When are the 2026 tours?
Five tours are scheduled:
Friday, October 23 at 5:30 PM — Evening Lantern Tour
Saturday, October 24 at 11:00 AM
Saturday, October 24 at 1:00 PM
Saturday, October 24 at 4:00 PM
Saturday, October 24 at 6:00 PM — Evening Lantern Tour
Tours begin promptly at their scheduled time. Confirmed ticket holders should plan to arrive approximately 15 minutes early for check-in.
Where does the tour take place?
This year’s tour explores Placerville’s Coloma-Spring Street Historic District.
The walking route will begin near Coloma and Main Streets in downtown Placerville and travel through the historic district before concluding on Bee Street.
The exact check-in location, route information, and other arrival instructions will be provided directly to confirmed ticket holders approximately one week before their scheduled tour.
How much are tickets?
Tickets are:
$20 for El Dorado County Historical Society members
$30 for non-members
EDCHS members receive early access to tickets beginning Wednesday, September 16, 2026.
If you are a current member of the EDCHS, check your email for early bird ticket links.
Tickets become available to the general public on Friday, September 18, 2026.
Do these tours sell out?
Whispers of the Past has become one of the Historical Society’s most popular annual events, and previous tours have sold out. Because each departure is limited in size, we recommend purchasing tickets early—especially if you hope to attend one of the evening lantern tours.
Is this a ghost tour?
No. Whispers of the Past is first and foremost a historical walking tour.
Our stories are grounded in local archives, newspapers, historical records, and the documented experiences of the people who lived in Placerville. Some historic homeowners may also share unexplained experiences or lore associated with their properties, but we do not manufacture ghost stories or present folklore as documented fact.
Think of it as the darker side of local history: real people, real places, and stories that can sometimes be stranger—and more unsettling—than fiction.
What will we learn about?
The 2026 tour moves beyond the familiar stories of the Gold Rush to explore some of the more somber chapters preserved in the Coloma-Spring Street neighborhood.
Among the places and stories encountered along the way are sites associated with the former Placerville Sanatorium, Union Cemetery, historic residences, unusual accidents, untimely deaths, scandals, and other episodes preserved in Placerville’s historical record.
Several residents of the historic district will also help us illuminate what it is like to live among some of Placerville’s oldest homes and the stories that continue to surround them.
Is the tour suitable for children?
All ages are welcome; however, parental discretion is advised.
The tour includes historically documented stories involving death, accidents, illness, tragedy, scandal, cemeteries, and other potentially unsettling subjects. Parents and guardians should consider whether this material is appropriate for their children.
How strenuous is the walking tour?
Whispers of the Past is an outdoor walking tour through a historic hillside neighborhood. Guests should expect grades, uneven sidewalks or walking surfaces, and other conditions typical of an older Placerville neighborhood.
Please wear sturdy, comfortable shoes intended for walking.
Guests with mobility concerns should carefully consider whether an extended walking tour over historic terrain is appropriate for them. More detailed information about the final route and any accessibility considerations will be sent to confirmed ticket holders before the event.
How long does the tour last?
Guests should plan for approximately 90–105 minutes.
Because these are live, guided historical tours, actual ending times may vary slightly.
What should I wear?
October weather in Placerville can vary considerably, so we recommend dressing in layers and wearing sturdy walking shoes.
Whispers of the Past proceeds rain or shine, so please check the forecast before leaving home and bring a raincoat or umbrella if wet weather is expected.
Guests attending an evening lantern tour are also encouraged to bring a small flashlight for additional visibility along darker portions of the route.
What happens if it rains?
The tour proceeds rain or shine.
Please dress for the forecast and bring appropriate rain protection when necessary. Should truly unsafe weather or another emergency require a change to the event, registered ticket holders will be contacted directly.
Do I need to sign a liability waiver?
Yes. All tour participants must have a liability waiver on file with the El Dorado County Historical Society.
Guests who have already completed an EDCHS liability waiver at a previous event do not need to submit another unless otherwise instructed.
A parent or guardian must complete the required waiver for participants under age 18.
Instructions will be included with the final information sent to ticket holders.
Where should I park?
Several public parking options are available in downtown Placerville.
Guests may park:
On all three floors of the City parking garage (the third floor is now open for public parking on weekends)
Along Main Street, where public parking is available
In the Fox Lot
Because downtown Placerville can be busy, particularly on weekends, we strongly recommend allowing extra time to find parking and walk to the tour check-in location.
A map showing City of Placerville public parking areas is available here:
View the City of Placerville Downtown Parking Map
The exact tour check-in location and any additional parking recommendations will be included in the Know Before You Go information sent to confirmed ticket holders approximately one week before their scheduled tour.
When will I receive the exact meeting location and other event-day details?
Approximately one week before your scheduled tour, the ticket purchaser will receive a detailed Know Before You Go message containing the information needed for the day of the event, including:
Exact check-in and departure location
Parking and arrival recommendations
Check-in instructions
Route and walking considerations
Liability waiver information
Restroom information
Weather-related reminders
Any interpretive materials or digital resources used during the tour
Other tour-specific instructions
Please watch the email account used when purchasing your tickets.
Where does my ticket money go?
Whispers of the Past is presented by the El Dorado County Historical Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Net proceeds from the tour support the Society’s work to preserve and share El Dorado County history, including operation and preservation of the historic Fountain & Tallman Museum and future educational and public-history programs.
Your ticket does more than take you into Placerville’s past—it helps preserve that past for the future.
Additional Questions?
Please message us at contact@edchs.org