The Gold Rush Museum — Attraction in Auburn

Don't miss a golden opportunity to visit this museum. It's small, but chock-full of interactive exhibits. Katy Bartosh (the museum director) was so generous to organize a tour for my students. She assigned 3 docents to lead our tour and they were exceptional. Rebecca, Gary and Rich were all very knowledgeable, patient and ensured each student had a great time. We went inside a "mine shaft" where we learned how the miners extracted gold and we even learned to ring the warning bell and what each ring meant. We also played a game - "Guess Which Route?", in which the students took turns going through travel trunks to look for clues to figure out if the owner came to California via a wagon, a ship through the Panama canal, a ship via Cape Horn, or a ship from China. It was so engaging for the kids that they kept wanting to play. The best part though, was how they all got to pan for gold. They were all so very excited, and each of them found real gold flakes. This was the perfect way to conclude our lesson on the Gold Rush! Thank you so much to the staff for making it such a worthwhile experience!!! Did I mention this is a FREE museum? How incredible is that? The gold panning is only $3, and you get real gold - that's a...

The Gold Rush Museum is the perfect first stop for those who want to learn more about the Europeans who migrated to the Americas, the settlements they built, and how they first came across gold. The staff here is absolutely wonderful, so passionate about the history of the area and willing to share extra knowledge if you're willing to listen. It only took us about 30 minutes to get through the Museum, but it was well worth it. As someone who was born and raised in California, and grew up learning a lot about the gold rush, it always amazes me how much more there is to still learn, especially from locals here in Auburn. I highly recommend visiting here and listening to the stories...

A small, free museum, it is perfect for families. There is a small stream where kids can experience panning for gold. The "tweet" wall is hilarious. The tidbits about locals are interesting without being too long, yet you can explore more of you want to. The interactive mineshaft was a fascinating way to experience what life in the mines was like.

Overall, it is a great little museum to learn about the gold rush, without spending a lot of...