Placer County Museum

The museum gallery, which is located in the space that once housed the county jail, provides an overview of Placer County’s history. Some of the highlights include a diorama depicting a Nisenan Indian family, the stagecoach that ran from Auburn to Michigan Bluff, and a video presentation of the history of the transcontinental highway system that runs through the county.

The featured exhibit in the foyer is the Pate Collection of Native American Art. This collection contains artifacts from all over California, the Southwest, the Northwest Coast, Alaska, and the Eastern United States. Also in the foyer is “Auburn Centennial”, a painting by renowned artist Thomas Kinkade.

The Sheriff’s Office has been restored to recreate the early days of the building. With its original furniture back in place, it looks as if Sheriff Elmer Gum will walk in the door at any moment.

The Gold Collection is housed in the lower vault inside the former Treasurer’s Office, and can be viewed by the public everyday from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (except Holidays).

The Women’s Jail is located under the north steps of the Courthouse. Built in 1905, the jail housed women prisoners for nearly 40 years.

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