Placerville, California, known as Hangtown in the early days of the Gold Rush, is smack in the middle of the present-day Gold Country. It’s a terrific town to explore, as I hope our video shows, and it’s a great jumping-off spot for one-day road trips into the surrounding territory. On this website, we tour Apple Hill and a few wineries, mines, caves and historic sites very near Placerville. If you stay in Placerville, or even if you don’t, be sure to visit the very place where the gold that launched the Rush was discovered. It’s a few miles to the west in the historic village of Coloma , now a state park. The history of Coloma is very well interpreted as is the sad saga of James Marshall, the man who found the famous nugget and lived, I’m afraid, to regret it. And while you’re down that way, look into the possibility of taking a raft trip on the rapids of the American River. It’s a thrill, but if you see a big chunk of gold along the way, you might think twice about picking it up and telling the world. Just be careful what you wish for.
