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Free Traveling Guides » States » California » Gold Country
Placerville
The town of Placerville, like many of the communities up and down Highway 49 in California, grew to prominence after the discovery of gold in 1848. James Wilson Marshall’s discovery became a lightning rod for prospectors and fortune seekers across the country and around the world, and soon the town that would become Placerville was populated with many such explorers.
Legend and lore surround the origins of the town. With an influx of prospectors, so came a criminal element. After incident after incident of gold thievery and murder, the townspeople began their own justice system. The punishment was often death, and criminals hanged from an old white oak tree near the center of town. The hangings grew so frequent, the town took on the name of Hangtown. It wasn’t until incorporation in 1854 that the people demanded a new, less menacing moniker, choosing Placerville as their new town name. Today, the stump of the old hanging tree is located in the cellar of “The Hangman’s Tree”, a local bar.
Visitors to Placerville can tour the historic downtown district, and visit such prominent landmarks as the Bell Tower on Main Street. The bell dates to 1865, where it was constructed as an alarm system to call out firefighters. This was after three fires destroyed much of Placerville’s business district in 1856, and a change was necessary. Within minutes of Placerville, tourists can visit wineries, Apple Hill Ranches, and the El Dorado National Forest, just to name a few of the local attractions.
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