3rd Annual Sutter Creek Heritage Days

Sunday, Sep 22, 2019
In Sutter Creek, CA

On September 22nd, take a stroll through Sutter Creek’s colorful past and celebrate its’ historic legacy. Come one, come all as we open the doors for you to visit the past and experience a bit of what it was like to live in Sutter Creek during the Gold Rush! Try your hand at Gold Panning, take a ride on a real Stage Coach, hear historians tell stories of the past and visit Sutter Creeks’ amazing historical sites, some that are rarely open to the public. All this fun and it’s free too!

Sutter Creek is known as the “Jewel of the Motherlode” because of the rich veins of gold that were discovered there. During the Gold Rush, thousands flocked there to make their fortune. Over $160 million dollars in gold ($5 Billion by current standards) was extracted from this region between 1851 and 1942.

Self-Guided Tours: Maps will be available at all venues….pick one up and start having fun at any location!

“Seldom Told Tales of Sutter Creek”: Local Historian Frank Tortorich will do FREE walking tours on Saturday and Sunday at 10 am, limited to the first 20 people who arrive. Meet at the corner of Main St. and Keyes. It will last about an hour to an hour and a half. Then Frank will also do a FREE presentation at 1 pm, Saturday and Sunday, at the Sutter Creek Theater, called “49ers — How They Got Here“.

Gold Panning at Minnie Provis Park: The earliest gold seekers worked the local creek and stream bed with simple gold pans. To celebrate those endeavors, at Minnie Provis Park there will be gold panning demonstrations and everything you need to try your hand at panning to see just how it was done. Then stroll through Miners’ Bend Park, at the south end of town, and learn the history of the mines. The early mines of this area are featured on the interpretive signs of the park.

Stage Coach Rides and the Sutter Creek Visitor Center Museum: Stop by 71A Main Street and see the old photos and historic relics. Then catch a free ride on an authentic stage coach, provided by “Doc” Wiser, from 12 – 3pm on Saturday and Sunday.

The Central Eureka Mine, up the hill from Miners’ Bend, will be on the map for you to visit as a representation of these famous mines. The Old Eureka Mine was first opened in 1852 and it was operated independently until 1924 when it merged with the Central Eureka Mine, the combined properties operated as the Central Eureka Mine, which is credited with producing $36 million dollars in gold! Hetty Green, the one-time richest woman in the world, was the owner of the Old Eureka Mine.

Sutter Creek’s Original Fire Departments: Sutter Creek’s old firehouse at 18 Main Street is now a Fire Museum and will be open to visitors. Sutter Creek’s first fire truck is being recreated here in a 1930’s auto workshop, along with the Firemen’s Meeting Hall and other displays. Fire History Volunteers will also be on site at Sutter Creek’s first fire house on Spanish Street and at the fire bell tower on Main Street at City Hall.

Sutter Creek Auditorium and City Hall: Located at 18 Main Street, this 89 year old building houses locally painted murals depicting Sutter Creek’s colorful history.

Historic Methodist Church: At 14 Main Street, this beautiful church has all the charm of yesteryear, a sight to behold.

The Knight Foundry: Located on Eureka Street, is the last remaining water run foundry in the county. It will be open with the machines running and historians on hand to give you an amazing insight to the production that went on there.

Monteverde General Store museum: 0pened as a country store in 1896 and still displays all the paraphernalia of the past on its shelves. A local Historian will be there to tell you its’ history.

Sutter Creek Historic Grammar School: The large, two-story brick building served as a school from 1870 to 1964 and is the second oldest 2 story brick schoolhouse in California. This beautiful schoolhouse is currently being restored by the Sutter Creek Community Benefit Foundation. Take a look at how much they have done and how beautiful it really is.

sutter creek knight foundry and historic grammar school

Ghosts of the Past: 0pened as a country store in 1896 and still displays all the paraphernalia of the past on its shelves. A local Historian will be there to tell you its’ history.

Sutter Creek Theater: A former silent film theater, which just turned 100 years old, will be open both Saturday and Sunday for you to see and view a variety of presentations. This beautiful theater has events every weekend with live music and now showing films too.

Food Offerings:

Humbug Hill Pancake Breakfast, 8 am to 10 am, Native Sons Hall, 56 Main St. Start your Sunday morning with a fun “Humbug Hill Pancake Breakfast”. The Sutter Creek Fire Department will be grillin’ flapjacks, and Hygrade eggs and ham, and don’t miss the Cowboy Coffee!

And, not to be missed, the delicious menu choices in all of Sutter Creek’s restaurants.

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