//
Photo: Someyawhoo, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
This observatory houses 17-inch and 14-inch telescopes and is open to the public on weekends in the summer and winter, and for special events (check their calendar). Visitors should check the website prior to arriving at the observatory as cancellations occur frequently due to clouds or weather. The roof of the observatory opens to the sky, so dress as you would for outside activities; there are no heaters and nowhere to warm up if you get cold. The Community Observatory was established in 2006 and is operated by a partnership of a team of volunteers, Folsom Lake College, the El Dorado County Office of Education and the Rotarians of Cameron Park. Cell phones are not allowed while at the observatory to reduce light pollution.
The Community Observatory is a public outreach observatory located in Placerville, California, on the campus of the El Dorado Learning Center. The Community Observatory was established in 2006 through the work of the Rotarians of Cameron Park as free family-friendly park for the community. It is operated by a partnership of a team of volunteers, Folsom Lake College, the El Dorado County Office of Education and the Rotarians of Cameron Park.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
This 0.25 mi dirt track is a few miles west of downtown Placerville. Races are held most weekends in spring and autumn, with the pits opening at 2PM and the grandstands opening at 3PM. Grandstand tickets must be purchased online.
The fair was first held in 1859, and has been using the current site since 1939. It features four full days of exhibitions, contests and competitions, concerts and events, carnival rides, and fair food. There is a junior livestock auction and still exhibits, such as photography, artwork, homemade wine and homebrew. Friday night events in the grandstands usually consist of Mutton Bustin' and Humpz and Hornz Bull Riding. Other favorite and traditional activities, include cooking demonstrations, free kid workshops, a funnel cake eating contest, a bean spitting contest, and Big Wheels races. The annual John M. Studebaker Championship Wheelbarrow races take place on Sunday evening in the grandstands. The father and child look-a-like contest happens on the main stage Sunday as part of the Father's Day activities. During the rest of the year the fairground hosts other events including swap meets, concerts, family reunions, and cultural events.
This historic Carpenter Gothic Episcopal church was built in 1865, and has been renovated several times. On November 17, 1977, it was listed in the National Register of Historic Places as the Episcopal Church of Our Saviour.
This historic Italianate style, Victorian brick building was built in 1860 to house the volunteer fire brigade. During its lifetime the building has served as the police department, jail, justice court, city hall, and public library. The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) on January 4, 1982.
The arboretum is located at the Institute of Forest Genetics outside of Placerville. The first plantings were made in 1926, and today it contains what is claimed to be the best-documented collection of native and exotic pines in the world, in addition to many other native and exotic conifers. The arboretum is operated by the US Forest Service and open to the public during business hours.
Museum exhibits focus on the natural and human history of the area, and include several Native American and Gold Rush artifacts. The museum is housed inside of the Fountain-Tallman Soda Works, which was built in 1852 and is the oldest building on Main Street. The historic rustic vernacular Victorian stone and brick building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 13, 1984. The original fountain works sold bottled, carbonated spring water to the miners, since the river and creeks were polluted from mining activities and thus unsafe to drink.