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 MerchantsSOLD OUT!
March 28 - Walking History Tour: Georgetown, Pride of the MountainsSOLD OUT!
April 18 - 2026 Historic Home Tour: Spring Street–Coloma Street Historic District, Placerville
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
June 27 - Mid-Century El Dorado: A Walking History Tour of Mid-Century Architecture in El Dorado County
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)
July 25 - Annual Summer Potluck
August 22 - A Healing Hand: The Goat Doctor of Mosquito Road — (presented in partnership with Save the Graves)
September 19 - The Root of Innovation: The Century-Long Legacy of the Institute of Forest Genetics
October 23 & 24 -Whispers of the Past: Macabre Tales of Placerville’s Spring Street-Coloma Street Historic District
December 5 -The First Christmas in Coloma
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.
Discover the Atomic Age: Mid-Century Modern Walking Tour of El Dorado Hills
Step back into the 1950s and 60s with the El Dorado County Historical Society. Join us on Saturday, June 27 for a special, immersive walking tour led by El Dorado Hills-based architectural historian Dana Supernowicz. We will explore the region's first planned mid-century neighborhoods and uncover the visionaries, developers, and modernist architectural firms that shaped the early modern aesthetic of western El Dorado County.
Tour Highlights:
Defining California Style: Discover the unique elements of Mid-Century Modernist and California Ranch architecture—two iconic styles that dominated the era and defined the Golden State's aesthetic.
10 Historic Exteriors: Enjoy a guided, street-level architectural interpretation of ten beautifully preserved homes developed in the early 1960s.
Sunset Magazine’s "Discovery House": View the cutting-edge 1962 "smart house" celebrated on the magazine's cover. Learn how this specific home helped popularize the villages of El Dorado Hills as a modern, desirable community emphasizing green space, fresh air, and recreational living amid our golden, oak-studded hills.
Important Event Details:
Tickets: EDCHS Members - $15, General Admission - $20
Duration: 90 minutes
Format: Outdoor walking tour. (Please note: To respect the privacy of current residents, this tour is exclusively an exterior, street-level interpretation. No interior access to the featured homes will be granted.)
Itinerary: A detailed FAQ and itinerary for the walking tour will be emailed to all confirmed ticket holders one week prior to the program.
