In the charming Gold Rush town of Placerville, California, a towering coastal redwood has stood as the heart of holiday celebrations for nearly 100 years. Inspired by the Nation’s Christmas Tree (the General Grant Tree in Kings Canyon), this living landmark on Main Street and Bedford Avenue has been lighting up the community every December since the late 1920s. But who planted it? Was it Fire Chief O.N. Hirst in 1928? A memorial by Mrs. Lena Rantz for her late husband? Or a joint effort by the A

Discover the remarkable story of Placerville’s Mountain Brewery, founded in 1853 and transformed by German immigrant Frederick Giebenhain into a powerhouse of innovation—with a saloon, hydropower, and even electricity in the 1800s. From humble log cabin to award-winning steam-brewed beer that shone at the St. Louis Exposition, this is a tale of vision, family, and resilience. Meet Francis Ray, a respected local and brewery worker whose family rose from enslavement to freedom through gold rush su

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Video: This history of Placerville Hardware and what makes it so unique. More from Jennifer Harrison. | Northern California Water