May-June 2026

  

Administrator’s Notes

by Bryanna Ryan, Museums Administrator

On Saturday, April 25th we celebrated Placer County’s official 175th anniversary with a fun day of walking tours around Old Town Auburn and free craft activities at the Placer County Museum inside the Historic Courthouse. Over 200 visitors came to enjoy the day, but the celebration continues!  This fall we will be burying a time capsule at the courthouse that will be interred for 75 years and opened upon Placer County’s 250th anniversary.  We welcome suggestions from local residents on what should go into the time capsule to commemorate Placer County today. If you have any suggestions, feel free to let us know at museums@placer.ca.gov as we consider what artifacts to place inside.

Meanwhile, we are getting ready to kickoff the 17th annual Heritage Trail! From June 6th to September 12th, 30 museums and historic sites throughout Placer County will host a fun and free Saturday on the Trail.  Collect stamps on your Trail passport and be entered into a drawing to win gift baskets and prizes at the end of the summer.

As we charge into summer, I hope to see you on the Trail! 

New Donation Highlight

By Kasia Woroniecka , Curator of Collections

Mendets were popular repair kits used to fix leaks in pots, pans, and rubber items. Manufactured by the Collette Manufacturing Company in Amsterdam, New York, they were produced from the early 1900s until the mid-1980s. Patented in 1907 by Clarence C. Collette, Mendets were the company’s first product.

These small metal patches required no heat or solder, allowing users to easily repair holes in enameled cookware, metal pots, and rubber goods such as hot water bottles. Each Mendet included a metal washer, a sealing washer, and a screw nut that worked together to create a tight, leak-proof seal.

Mendets became especially popular during the 1930s and 1940s when materials were scarce and repairing household items was essential. Promoted as a way to “mend all leaks instantly,” they reflected the era’s “waste nothing” mindset and remained a staple of home repair for decades, until the company closed in the mid-1980s.

   

Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon

Thank you to all who joined us for the annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon at the Loomis Veterans Memorial Hall where we came together to celebrate your dedication, generosity, and the passion you bring  to supporting Placer County Museums.

We also welcomed  Frank Udvarhely and Renee Perez from Supervisor Suzanne Jones’ office; Bridget Powers from Supervisor Cindy Gustafson’s office; and Landon Wolf from Supervisor Bonnie Gore’s office. We are grateful for their support and recognition of our volunteers’ invaluable contributions.

  

                                                   Ralph Burge and Brad Weisberg  

                                                             Anne Holmes 

                                                           Joyce Panciera 

                                                    Ralph Petri and Bryanna Ryan

                                                       Bev Call and Sarah Fugate 

                                                               Shelley Willsmore  

Volunteer Spotlight 

By Katy Bartosh, Curator of Education

For this issue’s Docent Spotlight, I want to introduce you to Jessica Munster. When I was thinking of volunteers to help for the 175th anniversary of Placer County, Jessica immediately came to mind. She is friendly, outgoing, and always willing to help for special events. When Jessica was completing her degree in Sociology, she needed 450 hours of volunteer time for a fellowship program. She was volunteering at the Roseville Utility Exploration Center, Benon Welty, and then saw our Burma Shave signs on Taylor Rd. by the Quarry. Her grandparents house is just down the road from the museum, and she was interested so she reached out. Jessica’s favorite part  about working at the museums is being able to serve the community in a positive way. Her Sociology degree focused on equity, and she loves the fact that our museums are all free, reducing barriers for our guests to visit. Jessica, I’m so glad we have someone like you on our volunteer team!

  

New Exhibit at the Golden Drift Museum

By Jason Adair, Exhibit Technician

Every day of our lives we’re bombarded by visual metaphors in advertising, film and television. They are in constant use because they are an effective cultural shorthand that we all pick up on instinctively. For example, we all recognize that a lightbulb above someone’s head symbolizes the moment they have an idea. They are often used to get at the deeper meaning of an idea without getting bogged down in words. This is why when we were tasked with designing the new exhibit at the Golden Drift Museum, on the history of native tribes in the area, we turned to the power of a visual metaphor to help tell the story.

The history of local indigenous cultures is a difficult one to navigate in terms of museum exhibit design. One of the biggest problems is telling an accurate story that not only gives a measure of agency to the people involved but that also doesn’t challenge the viewer to the point where they stop reading since the point of an exhibit is to help visitors understand the story we’re telling. We decided on building the exhibit around a visual metaphor that speaks to the past as well as gives voice to the current descendants of that era. 

To do this we employed the simple sculptural element of a sapling growing from the roots of an old cut down tree. The hope was to symbolize the perseverance of native culture by nurturing its roots and preserving its traditions.

We had a few big problems with the design of this exhibit. The first was that the artifacts from the old exhibit were no longer in the collection, and the second was the fact that the Golden Drift Museum has a very specific style of exhibit cases. While we were able to violate that norm in the next room when we did the Chinese and railroad exhibits, this case was part of a set of cases that all had a very distinct look. Since we weren’t replacing all of them, we needed to ensure they still blended with the room’s overall look and feel. 

To fix the first problem, we were able to purchase reproductions from a certified local maker. As a bonus, since they were reproductions, we didn’t have to put them behind glass and could instead put them out where people could handle them.

The second problem was a little more involved. We started with a process we use called “rapid prototyping.” This forces us to work fast and only use materials that would never be good enough to keep around and actually put in the exhibit. We had a general idea of what we wanted to build, so we just started grabbing things from around the shop and putting together a totally unimpressive assemblage of the exhibit. During the process we did have a lot of ideas about integrating natural elements into the exhibit. We decided to cut some curves into the front of the case to give it a different feel than the right angles it had, and to push the sapling outside the case to give it more life.

We knew how to build a stump, since we had built one as a test for the tree we made for the Foresthill museum. Pro tip: its base is an upside-down bucket with cardboard and expanding foam. As for the sapling, that was a totally different problem. For starters, neither of us even knew what a Black Oak sapling looked like, or any other sapling for that matter. Fortunately, the American River Canyon had many to choose from so we found one and took lots of photos. We also had the good fortune of finding some soaproot plants nearby to take pictures of and recreate.

After several tests with different materials for making the smooth bark of a sapling, we settled on building a frame out of cardboard tubes and covered them in Bondo. With just a little additional sculpting to mimic the weird wrinkles trees have around where branches come out (ones I didn’t even know existed until we had to look closely) we painted it up, put it in place, and added leaves and acorns. 

The last bit to take care of was the ground cover. Since natural fibers are mostly a no-no, we had to find an alternative to dirt. Turns out bugs hate dried coffee grounds so we went to a local coffee shop and grabbed a bag of used ones.

After all was said and done, I think we ended up with an exhibit that looks striking and tells and interesting story. The Golden Drift Museum will reopen on Memorial Day weekend, so be sure to drop by this summer and check it out.

                    

Placer County Historical Society Dinner Meeting
 

                When: Thursday,  June 4

Meeting at 6:00, Dinner at 6:15, Speaker at 6:45

Joseph Shanahan,  Interpreter I for the Auburn State Recreation Area. 

                He will be speaking on the Hawver Cave and the geology of our area.

                 Dinner cost: $30.00.

Speaker presentation: Free

                Location: Veterans Memorial Hall

                100 East Street, Auburn, CA    

Please RSVP to rsvp.pchs@gmail.com 

                Please go to www.placercountyhistoricalsociety.org for more information

 

 Placer County Historical Organizations

Colfax Area Historical Society 

Jay McIntyre, President, (530) 346-8599

colfaxhistory.org 

Donner Summit Historical Society

Bill Oudegeest, (209) 606-6859

donnersummithistoricalsociety.org

Foresthill Divide Historical Society

Annie DeMaria-Norris (916) 206-4479 foresthillhistory.org

Fruitvale School Hall 

Community Association 

Mark Fowler

Golden Drift Historical Society

Sarah Fugate, (530) 389-2121

Historical Advisory Board

Glenn Vineyard, (916) 747-1961

Joss House Museum and 

Chinese History Center

Larry Finney, (530) 305-9380

Lincoln Area Archives Museum

Elizabeth Jansen, (916) 645-3800

laamca.org

Lincoln Highway Association 

Trey Pitsenberger

vice.president@lincolnhighwayassoc.org

Loomis Basin Historical Society

Karen Clifford, (916) 663-3871

www.loomisbasinhistory.org

Maidu Museum & Historic Site

(916) 774-5934

roseville.ca.us/indianmuseum 

The Museum of Sierra Ski History and 1960 Winter Olympics 

David C. Antonucci, (775) 722-3502 

tahoemuseum.org

Native Sons of the Golden West 

Parlor #59

Dave Allen, (530) 878-2878 dsallen59@sbcglobal.net

Newcastle Portuguese Hall 

Association

Mario Farinha, (530) 269-2412 

North Lake Tahoe Historical Society

Phil Sexton, (530) 583-1762

northtahoemuseums.org

Placer County Genealogical Society 

Diane Fishburn

http://www.placergenealogy.org  

Placer County Historical Society

April McDonald-Loomis

(530) 823-2128

placercountyhistoricalsociety.org

Placer County Museums Docent Guild

Craig Norris

Placer Sierra Railroad Heritage Society  

Chuck Spinks

Psrhs.org

Rocklin Historical Society

Gloria Beverage (916) 624-3464

rocklinhistorical@gmail.com

Roseville Historical Society

Denise Fiddyment, (916) 773-3003

rosevillehistorical.org

Calendar: 

Please confirm all meeting times and locations with each organization

Foresthill Divide Historical Society Meeting: Monday, May 18th at 6:00 p.m.

Golden Drift Historical Society Meeting: Monday, June 1st at 7:00 p.m.

Historical Advisory Board Meeting:        Wednesday, June 17th at 5:30 p.m.

Loomis Basin Historical Society Meeting:         Wednesday, May 20th at 6:00 p.m. 

Placer County Historical Society Meeting: Thursday, May 7th at 2:00 p.m.

Placer Sierra Railroad Heritage Society: Tuesday, May 26th at 7:00 p.m.

Rocklin Historical Society Meeting: Tuesday, May 12th at  6:30 p.m.

Roseville Historical Society Meeting: Tuesday, May 12th at 4:00 p.m. 

March-April 2026

 

Administrator’s Notes

by Bryanna Ryan, Museums Administrator

With spring on the horizon, we are approaching a monumental milestone for Placer County. This year marks the 175th anniversary from the date Placer County was established on April 25, 1851, and carved out of portions of Sutter and Yuba Counties. Auburn, already an important site for local politics, became the seat of Placer County and the growing nexus for law and public service for the region. In celebration of this important anniversary, here is the earliest known illustration of Auburn from 1851. In the foreground, the canvas tent operated as the courthouse until it was replaced with a more permanent structure on top of the hill overlooking Auburn in 1853. The log jail beside the canvas courthouse burned, along with most of Auburn, in 1855 and was rebuilt beside the new courthouse.

In other Museums news, Living History has begun, and we expect almost 3,000 3rd-graders to visit in the coming months. We are accepting applications for the Supervising Curator position, beginning plans for this year’s Heritage Trail and Cemetery Tour events, and looking forward to a busy year ahead!

 

New Donation Highlight

By Kasia Woroniecka , Curator of Collections

This silver napkin ring with a classical medallion of a warrior’s head belonged to Henry Andrew Frost. Born on May 15, 1830, in Massachusetts, Frost later made his way to California, settling in Dutch Flat in Placer County. He worked as a miner during the Gold Rush before eventually turning to farming, where he specialized in cultivating fruit orchards. He remained in Dutch Flat until his death on October 26, 1912.

Napkin rings first appeared in France around 1800 designed to identify and hold individual cloth napkins between weekly washings. Early examples were made from silver, wood, or bone and were often engraved with initials for personalization. Over the course of the 19th century they became popular gifts for christenings, weddings, and as keepsakes or souvenirs.

  

From Whitmarsh to Strobridge - An Auburn Family History

Chuck Spinks, Placer-Sierra Railroad Heritage Society President

Samuel H. Whitmarsh was born in Northampton, Massachusetts, in 1820. Like many New Englanders drawn west by opportunity, he traveled to California with his brother Thomas during the early years of the Gold Rush. By 1855, Whitmarsh had settled in Auburn, where he became the agent for the California Stage Company. In May 1857, Whitmarsh expanded his business interests by opening the Pioneer Livery Stable in Auburn while continuing his work for the Stage Company. That same year, on December 1, he married Susan J. Wolley. With financial stability and growing local prominence, Whitmarsh entered public service and, in 1858, he was elected a Placer County Supervisor representing Auburn.

                            Strobridge family at home in Haywards (now Hayward, CA)

 Samuel and Susan Whitmarsh had a daughter, Julia Conner Whitmarsh, born on March 7, 1861. Two weeks later, on March 21 of that year, Susan Whitmarsh died. Although the cause of death was not recorded, its proximity to Julia’s birth suggests possible complications related to childbirth. On May 10, 1862, Whitmarsh remarried, taking Hannah Conover as his wife. Their son, Samuel Hooker Whitmarsh, was born on June 9, 1863. Whitmarsh’s livery business was failing, and in June 1863 he was sued by creditors. Personal loss followed financial hardship when Hannah Whitmarsh died on January 11, 1865. 

When the Central Pacific Railroad reached Auburn on May 13, 1865, the California Stage Company closed its Auburn office and Samuel became unemployed. On June 7, 1865, overwhelmed by repeated bereavement and financial distress, Samuel H. Whitmarsh died by suicide. His death left Julia, age four, and Samuel, age two, without parents.

The fate of the Whitmarsh children became linked to one of Auburn’s most prominent visitors, James Harvey Strobridge, construction superintendent for the Central Pacific Railroad. From 1859 to the summer of 1863, Strobridge was in Dutch Flat managing the construction of the Placer County Canal. On December 6, 1860, Strobridge took a break from his work on the canal to marry Maria McGowan Keating in Auburn. Strobridge was hired by Charles Crocker to lead the railroad construction crews in the winter of 1864. During the construction of the Central Pacific through the Sierra foothills in 1865, Strobridge established his headquarters in Auburn where he was joined by his wife, Maria. The couple had no biological children. Sometime after Samuel Whitmarsh’s death, James and Maria Strobridge adopted Julia and Samuel Whitmarsh, the first of five adopted children they would raise. The new Strobridge family accompanied James through most of the construction of the railroad and are in photographs taken on May 10, 1869 at the Gold Spike ceremony at Promontory, Utah.

 

Volunteer Spotlight 

By Katy Bartosh, Curator of Education

While organizing files this weekend I came across this photo of one of our docents, Richard Jones. I couldn’t help but write a bit about the work he has done in the Archives for Placer County Museums. For over 25 years, Richard has been a dedicated volunteer in Foresthill and our Archives and Collections Facility. He’s given over 4,500 hours of service and made an extraordinary impact behind the scenes. Richard volunteers multiple times a week and has inventoried more than 25,000 records. In addition to updating records, Richard has also donated objects and photographs to our collection.

While all our docents do incredible things, some of our volunteer spots are more visible than others. But the work that happens behind the scenes is just as essential to fulfilling our mission. Richard reminds us that preserving our County’s rich history will allow future generations to learn about the past. Thank you Richard!

 

Rocklin Historical Society

By Gloria Beverage, Rocklin Historical Society President

The Rocklin Historical Society will host an event on Saturday, May 2, showcasing the diverse history and cultures of the region.  The Heritage Street Faire will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Rocklin’s historic Front Street.

Volunteers are planning a free, family-friendly event that will feature performances by a variety of ethnic music and dance groups, including Hawaiian and Irish dancers, an African dance troupe, Aztec and Native American performers as well as the popular Chinese lion dancers.

Centered around Rocklin’s history of “Rocks, Rails and Ranches, booths set up along the street will present stories of its early residents: Native Americans, Finnish, Spanish, Japanese and Chinese. In tribute to Rocklin’s once-thriving granite industry, a granite splitting demonstration is planned.

Also being invited to participate are the Tuskegee Airmen and representatives of other cultures, including the Pakistani community. The City of Rocklin’s Fire and Police Departments’ historic vehicles will be on display.

 

Maidu Museum and Historic Site

By Alizabeth Stevans, Interpretive Services Program Leader

Maidu Museum & Historic Site is thrilled to announce the return of Yoomén: A Celebration of Spring event, scheduled for Saturday, April 26, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. This FREE family-friendly event serves as an opportunity for Indigenous communities to gather, celebrate and share deep history and traditions with all in attendance.  From Raymond LeBeau’s ( Pit River, Lakota, and Cahuilla) debut art exhibition to hands-on activity stations, there will be something for everyone to enjoy at Yoomén. Visitors can enjoy lunch with a view of the Historic Site, while indulging in the food available for purchase. Throughout the day, take a guided tour of the Historic Site and enjoy demonstrations of culturally significant skills, stories, and performances by Indigenous musicians and dancers. Support Native artists directly by shopping the Yoomén market featuring beautiful art, jewelry, and more!

 Raymond LeBeau: Field(s) of View is a solo exhibition by local Pit River, Lakota, and Cahuilla artist, Raymond LeBeau. reflects his perspective as a Native Pit River artist shaped by his northeastern California homelands and coastal environments. Through paintings, drawings, maps, and found-object assemblages, he explores history, lived experiences, and the cultural influences that shape his world. Together, these works form a layered landscape of memory, place, and an ongoing story. The exhibition will be on view from March 7 – July 26, 2026. Join us for the FREE opening reception on March 7, 5:00-7:00pm.

  

Placer County Historical Society

                                      

Step back in time and see history in action! Our dedicated volunteer  Gus Thompson is helping bring the past to life at the  Auburn Old Town Post Office History and Welcome Center.

Stop in on Saturday or Sunday between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM to explore, learn, and experience a glimpse of days gone by.

 

                                 Auburn post office interior c. 1900. PCM Collection.

 

Placer County Historical Society Dinner Meeting

 

 When:                Thursday,  April  2

                          Meeting at 6:00, Dinner at 6:15, Speaker at 6:45

  Alfred Corral, local historian, will be presenting a panel of speakers on the Japanese   Experience in Placer County

Location: Veterans Memorial Hall Dinner cost: $30.00.

100 East Street, Auburn, CA Speaker presentation: Free

Please RSVP to rsvp.pchs@gmail.com

Please go to www.placercountyhistoricalsociety.org for more information

 

 Placer County Historical Organizations

Colfax Area Historical Society 

Jay McIntyre, President, (530) 346-8599

colfaxhistory.org 

Donner Summit Historical Society

Bill Oudegeest, (209) 606-6859

donnersummithistoricalsociety.org

Foresthill Divide Historical Society

Annie DeMaria-Norris (916) 206-4479 foresthillhistory.org

Fruitvale School Hall 

Community Association 

Mark Fowler

Golden Drift Historical Society

Sarah Fugate, (530) 389-2121

Historical Advisory Board

Glenn Vineyard, (916) 747-1961

Joss House Museum and 

Chinese History Center

Larry Finney, (530) 305-9380

Lincoln Area Archives Museum

Elizabeth Jansen, (916) 645-3800

laamca.org

Lincoln Highway Association 

Trey Pitsenberger

vice.president@lincolnhighwayassoc.org

Loomis Basin Historical Society

Karen Clifford, (916) 663-3871

www.loomisbasinhistory.org

Maidu Museum & Historic Site

(916) 774-5934

roseville.ca.us/indianmuseum 

The Museum of Sierra Ski History and 1960 Winter Olympics 

David C. Antonucci, (775) 722-3502 

tahoemuseum.org

Native Sons of the Golden West 

Parlor #59

Dave Allen, (530) 878-2878 dsallen59@sbcglobal.net

Newcastle Portuguese Hall 

Association

Mario Farinha, (530) 269-2412 

North Lake Tahoe Historical Society

Phil Sexton, (530) 583-1762

northtahoemuseums.org

Placer County Genealogical Society 

Diane Fishburn

http://www.placergenealogy.org  

Placer County Historical Society

April McDonald-Loomis

(530) 823-2128

placercountyhistoricalsociety.org

Placer County Museums Docent Guild

Craig Norris

Placer Sierra Railroad Heritage Society  

Chuck Spinks

Psrhs.org

Rocklin Historical Society

Gloria Beverage (916) 624-3464

rocklinhistorical@gmail.com

Roseville Historical Society

Denise Fiddyment, (916) 773-3003

rosevillehistorical.org

Calendar: 

Please confirm all meeting times and locations with each organization

Foresthill Divide Historical Society Meeting:                        Monday, March 16th at 6:00 p.m.

Golden Drift Historical Society Meeting:                      Monday, April 6th at 7:00 p.m.

Historical Advisory Board Meeting:                                   Wednesday, April 15th at 5:30 p.m.          

Loomis Basin Historical Society Meeting:                   Wednesday, March 18th at 6:00 p.m.

Placer County Historical Society Meeting:                    Thursday, March 5th at 2:00 p.m.

Placer Sierra Railroad Heritage Society:                      Tuesday, March 24th at 7:00 p.m.

Rocklin Historical Society Meeting:                              Tuesday, March 10th at  6:30 p.m.

Roseville Historical Society Meeting:                             Tuesday, March 10th at 4:00 p.m.

 

January-February 2026

 

Administrator’s Notes

by Bryanna Ryan, Museums Administrator

The year 2025 ended with three successful events for Placer County Museums. S’mores & Stories at the Bernhard Museum broke a new record for visitors with 406 showing up for a festive and fun evening by the campfire.  Old Town Country Christmas topped out at  661 over two Saturday celebrations at the Placer County Museum.  This brings our visitor count for the year to a grand total of almost 100,000 people who came to learn a little about our human journey, through the lens of local history.

This endeavor is only possible because of the tremendous generosity of volunteers.  They are kind and friendly storytellers; they are dedicated to preservation; and they are a part of our family.  When the final tallies roll in, in 2025, we estimate our volunteers will have given over 11,000 hours of their time to help keep history alive and inspire reflection within our museum spaces. This sentiment of gratitude for museum and archives volunteers extends to all our fellow heritage organizations throughout the region as well.

Looking back over the last couple of months, we are also happy to announce two new staff members on our team. Kaitlin Kincade has joined as a Curator of Education, to assist in the ever-growing demand for tours, events, and student programs.  Kaitlin has a wealth of knowledge to share and gave a very illuminating presentation on local Indigenous history at the Docent Guild’s “Love to Learn” on November 17.  If you are not a member of the Guild, consider joining and you will receive invitations to these presentations. It is $10 a year and applications are available in our front office.

Don Ivey has also joined as our new Curator of Archives. We are fortunate to have the expertise which he gained over several decades in archives and records management. Don is already helping to improve and streamline the archival program and is a quick study on matters of local history.

I am also humbled and honored to have been selected as your new permanent Museums Administrator.  I am learning a lot and looking forward to the journey ahead.  Any plans for filling the Supervising Curator position will be decided in the new year. In the meantime, keep your eyes open for Ralph while he spends some of his retirement visiting our museums.

As we charge full speed into a new year, I wish everyone a happy and healthy 2026!

 

New Donation Highlight

By Kasia Woroniecka , Curator of Collections

This silver cup trophy was awarded to Auburn Grammar School, which won the grand prize in the grammar school category for the most artistic and original display at the Placer County Flower Festival in April 1931. The event marked the seventh annual festival and was held in Auburn under the sponsorship of the Women’s Auxiliary of the American Legion.  The top prize went to the Gold Hill Farm Bureau Center for the best general Farm Bureau exhibit. According to festival rules, the exhibition was open to all flowers and plants grown within Placer County.

The Women’s Auxiliary of the American Legion, officially known as the American Legion Auxiliary (ALA), was founded in 1919 and is the world’s largest patriotic women’s service organization. It supports veterans, military families, and communities through volunteer service, advocacy for veterans’ benefits, and youth programs. 

The trophy is currently on display in the “Honoring Teachers of Years Ago” exhibit at the Benton Welty School Room Museum in Auburn City Hall. The museum is open Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

 

You are invited!

From Schoolhouse to City Hall: 110th Celebration

January 10, 2026 1PM to 4 PM

at historic Auburn City Hall  * 1225 Lincoln Way, Auburn

Celebration marks the historic day that the Auburn Union School District transitioned into the modern era.

A special reenactment program at 1:30PM honoring the school’s original opening day.

 

Volunteer Christmas Luncheon

Thank you to all who joined us for the annual Volunteer Christmas Luncheon. This year we celebrated at the Foresthill Veterans Memorial Hall. With a wonderful turnout, a beautiful setting, and delicious food we couldn’t have imagined a more perfect way to celebrate. 

    Marae Lengtat and Rebecca McHugh received Docent Training Certificates.

                                              Celebrating in festive style.

                                                               Let’s eat!

Winter Celebrations & Gold Rush Program 

By Katy Bartosh, Curator of Education

This December, the Placer County Museums were filled with holiday spirit as families gathered for two fun annual events. On Friday, December 12, more than 400 visitors joined us at the Bernhard Museum for S’mores and Stories, where the historic farmhouse was dressed for a Victorian Christmas. Guests roasted s’mores, sipped hot chocolate, enjoyed live music, and soaked in the magic of the season. The holiday fun continued with Classic Christmas at the Courthouse, part of Old Auburn’s Country Christmas festivities. Between December 12th and December 20th, over 600 visitors stepped inside Auburn’s Historic Courthouse to meet Mrs. Claus (all the way from the North Pole!), listen to stories, enjoy warm apple cider and cookies, create ornaments, and listen to live music. We are grateful to celebrate the season with our community and can’t wait to welcome everyone back next year!

Kaitlin Kincade, Donna Martinez, Bill Gray, Jim Vessely, Rebecca Hemphill , Brad Weisberg

Crafts

                                                                    Mrs. Claus

Our popular Gold Rush Program returns this January and February, welcoming nearly 300 fourth-grade students to the Gold Rush Museum. During this immersive 2.5-hour field trip, students rotate through four hands-on, docent-led stations that explore how people came to California, the geology of the region, the tools of the trade, and the individuals who shaped this area forever.

Designed to align with classroom curriculum, the program gives students a strong foundation for understanding the California Gold Rush, or enhances lessons already underway at school. Interested in learning more? Please contact the Curator of Education for details.

Volunteer Spotlight

By Katy Bartosh, Curator of Education

Placer County Museums can offer successful winter programs and student field trips thanks to the dedication of our incredible volunteers. This month, we’re excited to highlight Melissa Fiore.

Melissa moved to Placer County in 2019 from Tennessee, where she worked as an appellate attorney. Today, visitors may recognize her friendly face at the Placer County Museum or the Griffith Quarry Museum where her engaging personality makes history come alive. When asked why she volunteers, Melissa shared that she began as a way to learn local history and stayed because she loves meeting and connecting with the people who visit our museums. Thank you, Melissa, for all that you do!

Rocklin Historical Society

Doug Osella didn’t envision a field of dreams. His vision was a simple one – the creation of a small public garden to honor his aunt and uncle, Jennie and Arvo Minkkinen, longtime Rocklin residents and civic leaders.

Placer County’s first librarian in Rocklin, Jennie Wickman Minkkinen opened the doors of the branch library in 1943. Located in former granite city hall building on Rocklin Road, there were only 38 books in the collection when the library opened. By the end of the first year, the shelves held 774 books.

In 1965, Jennie oversaw the library’s move to the former home of the Finnish Lutheran Church across the street. As the city’s librarian for 49 years, she served generations of readers – from kids to parents to grandparents. Her husband, Arvo, was a member of the Rocklin City Council for 24 years, including eight years as mayor.

“The idea of a rose garden came from Arvo Minkkinen’s love of gardening,” Osella said. “He had a large rose garden on their property.” In late 2024, the Rocklin Historical Society joined Osella in planning how to turn a scrappy piece of land behind the Rocklin Library building into a tranquil garden.  Work on the revitalized area, dubbed The Secret Garden, was finally completed in November.

In addition to paying tribute to the legacy of Rocklin’s first librarian, it also honors Rocklin’s historic ties to the quarry industry. The unique handmade granite curbing that borders the garden pathway came from the home of Jennie’s father, quarry worker Victor Wickman.

Rocklin Elementary School third graders agreed to donate the proceeds from their annual coin drive to purchase a granite bench. Rocklin Historical Society received support for the project from the City of Rocklin and the Placer County Library administration. Financial support was provided by Placer County Friends of the Library the Wickman family, Sally Huseby and the South Placer Rotary Club as well as donations from the community.

 

Placer County Historical Society

                                        Joanie Maxwell and Rebecca McGuire

 Joanie and Rebecca helped us celebrate the formal opening of the Auburn Old Town Post Office History and Welcome Center on Dec. 5th.

We had a great turnout for the Open House.
Stop in on Saturday or Sunday between the hours of 10:00 and 4:00 to take a step back in time. 

Placer County Historical Society Dinner Meeting

 

Dinner Meeting

When:  Thursday, February 5, 2026

Meeting at 6:00, Dinner at 6:15, Speaker at 6:45

History Expeditions Team, a group of endurance athletes bringing history to life through                        expeditions that  combine historical research and adventure.

  Location: Veterans Memorial Hall Dinner cost: $30.00.

100 East Street, Auburn, CA Speaker presentation: Free

Please RSVP to rsvp.pchs@gmail.com 

Please go to www.placercountyhistoricalsociety.org for more information

 Placer County Historical Organizations

Colfax Area Historical Society 

Jay McIntyre, President, (530) 346-8599

colfaxhistory.org 

Donner Summit Historical Society

Bill Oudegeest, (209) 606-6859

donnersummithistoricalsociety.org

Foresthill Divide Historical Society

Annie DeMaria-Norris (916) 206-4479 foresthillhistory.org

Fruitvale School Hall 

Community Association 

Mark Fowler

Golden Drift Historical Society

Sarah Fugate, (530) 389-2121

Historical Advisory Board

Glenn Vineyard, (916) 747-1961

Joss House Museum and 

Chinese History Center

Larry Finney, (530) 305-9380

Lincoln Area Archives Museum

Elizabeth Jansen, (916) 645-3800

laamca.org

Lincoln Highway Association 

Trey Pitsenberger

vice.president@lincolnhighwayassoc.org

Loomis Basin Historical Society

Karen Clifford, (916) 663-3871

www.loomisbasinhistory.org

Maidu Museum & Historic Site

(916) 774-5934

roseville.ca.us/indianmuseum 

The Museum of Sierra Ski History and 1960 Winter Olympics 

David C. Antonucci, (775) 722-3502 

tahoemuseum.org

Native Sons of the Golden West 

Parlor #59

Dave Allen, (530) 878-2878 dsallen59@sbcglobal.net

Newcastle Portuguese Hall 

Association

Mario Farinha, (530) 269-2412 

North Lake Tahoe Historical Society

Phil Sexton, (530) 583-1762

northtahoemuseums.org

Placer County Genealogical Society 

Diane Fishburn

http://www.placergenealogy.org  

Placer County Historical Society

April McDonald-Loomis

(530) 823-2128

placercountyhistoricalsociety.org

Placer County Museums Docent Guild

Craig Norris

Placer Sierra Railroad Heritage Society  

Chuck Spinks

Psrhs.org

Rocklin Historical Society

Gloria Beverage (916) 624-3464

rocklinhistorical@gmail.com

Roseville Historical Society

Denise Fiddyment, (916) 773-3003

rosevillehistorical.org

Calendar: 

Please confirm all meeting times and locations with each organization

Please confirm all meeting times and locations with each organization

Foresthill Divide Historical Society Meeting: Monday, January 19th at 6:00 p.m.

Golden Drift Historical Society Meeting:       Monday, February 2nd at 7:00 p.m.

Historical Advisory Board Meeting:            Wednesday, February 18th at 5:30 p.m.

Loomis Basin Historical Society Meeting:  Wednesday, January 21st at 6:00 p.m. 

Placer County Historical Society Meeting: Thursday, January 8th at 2:00 p.m.

Placer Sierra Railroad Heritage Society: Tuesday, January  27th at 7:00 p.m.

Rocklin Historical Society Meeting:      Tuesday, January 13th at  6:30 p.m.

Roseville Historical Society Meeting: Tuesday, January 13th at 4:00 p.m.