Phone: 916-685-8115

E-Mail: eghs@elkgrovehistoricalsociety.com

Mailing Address:

P.O. Box 562, Elk Grove, CA 95759

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We are located at

9941 East Stockton Boulevard (adjacent to the west entrance of Elk Grove Regional Park).

Heritage Park gives visitors the experience of looking into the past and the rich history of the city of Elk Grove.

The Park grounds consists of

The 1850 Elk Grove House & Stage Stop Museum
The 1853 Foulks House Museum
The 1912 San Joaquin Township Justice Court and Jail Museum
The old style Blacksmith Shop with statue
The Dennis Buscher Plaza
Bathroom facilities and lawns

The park is open for FREE tours every first Saturday of each month (February through October) from noon to 4:00 pm or upon request. We close in November to get ready for our “Old Fashioned Christmas” event.

Volunteering

Do you have a little time on your hands and want to help out at your own pace and when you are available, give us a call. Everybody at the Elk Grove Historical Society volunteers at many levels and we always have a lot of things going on (see below). The key is we appreciate any help. Contact our volunteer coordinator Pat Lake and she can help you find your interest at (951) 377-3312 cel or stanpatlake@gmail.com. We have a great bunch of people to work with and we have a lot of fun.

CURRENT INFORMATION and COMING EVENTS

Speakers Series

Each year the historical society gathers eight history speakers to share their knowledge with the community. Their hour long presentation is given on the third Monday evening of the month, usually including a power point slide show and often items on display. Here is what has been set up for 2023…

June 19 – Dave Stuart

Stuart grew up in Ripon and attended Modesto Junior College and worked seasonally at Caswell State Park. He studied anthropology and biology at Fresno State and the University of Colorado. Mr. Stuart and his wife have lived in Sacramento’s Pocket neighborhood for 35 years. Their grown children and grandchildren live nearby.

Dave is a fourth generation native of the Northern San Joaquin Valley and the Delta. He has been the Assistant State Archaeologist of Colorado and a Cultural Resources Specialist and planner for the National Park Service. He was the director of museums and programs for the City of Ventura and directed the Sacramento Science Center (now called MoSAC) and the Sacramento History Museum in Old Sacramento. After eleven years as director of our San Joaquin County Historical Museum in Micke Grove Park, Dave retired five years ago.

Other post-retirement projects were serving as interim manager of the Sacramento History Museum and researching the Indigenous cultures and history of the Bay-Delta region in support of the Clarksburg Schoolhouse project and the new Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area. Much of that research has been summarized in articles in the online magazine www.soundingsmag.net.

“The History of Motorcycles in the San Joaquin Valley 1900-1970”

David Stuart, who has presented to EGHS several times in the past, is the coauthor of a new book, Motorcycling in California’s Central Valley. It’s a pictorial history with more than 200 historic photos focusing on San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties and covering 1900 to 1970.

Stuart’s PowerPoint presentation will outline the history of motorcycling in the Northern San Joaquin Valley using historic photos from the book. It will include the origins of motorcycles at the end of the Victorian era, working riders, motorcycle club activities, dealers and shops, and various types of racing competition. Profiles of regional hall-of-fame motorcyclists spanning each of seven decades will be included.

The presentations are always on the third Monday evening of the month, at 6:30 pm (doors open at 6:00) at the Presbyterian Church at 8153 Elk Grove Boulevard. Turn north on to Big Horn and it’s behind the Chevron Station, Suite 50. Always Free, open to the public, and we have snacks.

The book was one of his post-retirement projects. Dave will have copies of the book available for sale and signing.

If you are interested in a preview of the book, click here.

July and August – Summer Recess

September 18 – Dave Lema

David is the Chairman of the Linda Mae Mahon Lema Foundation which was established to honor Linda after her passing in 2015. The objective of the Foundation is to research, record, and present the personal stories and family histories of the greater area of Elk Grove. To date, over 300 audio casts which tell these stories have been produced and published on the Foundation web site.

“The Adventurous Story of Richard Phelan and Marie Edgington”

“In 2017, during the process of recording family stories of the greater Elk Grove area, the Linda Mae Mahon Lema Foundation uncovered the vague and unusual story of a man, who in the 1890’s, was convicted of murder, sentenced to 25 years in Folsom Prison, and later received a full Gubernatorial Pardon. Researching this story over the past 6 years led us to a quiet corner of the Elk Grove Cemetery, and the large family plot of the Springsted and Edgington families. These families came to Elk Grove in the 1860s and were prominent in the area well beyond the 1930s. With our discovery of a grave marker in this family plot, of a man whose name seemed out-of-place, a story unfolded like no other yet told in the history of Elk Grove. This is the story of gold mines and electricity, of killings, conspiracy, convictions, pardons, enormous wealth, state and national politics, and the richest strike of gold and silver ever mined from anywhere in California and Nevada. This is the story of Richard Phelan and Marie Edgington.”

October 16 – Dave Freeman

David Freeman, living in the suburbs of the small Glenn County town of Artois, Glenn County, is a former map and compass toting Boy Scout. He has, over the years, updated his geo- location skills with drone imagery and LIDAR to the cutting-edge standards of today. A semi-retired Building Contractor, today he spans the gap between the historical community and the surveying establishment. David uses period maps to convert period sites and features to usable GPS coordinates using both GIS and Map Regression Analysis with the final step being the application of applied shoe leather to discover the target sites. He is currently a member of Trails West and is on the Board of Directors, Vice President and lead on the Historical Committee. He writes a regular column in the Colusa Historical Society Publication, “Wagon Wheels” on the progress of his discoveries. He also leads a group of volunteers which include 2 archaeologists, a surveyor, hydrologist and Native American specialist which are primarily hunting out the historical features and sites of Peter Lassen. For the past 13 years I have been searching and mapping historical sites and features related to the period of 1840- 1860. Using GIS coupled with Map Regression Analysis.

“The Mill and Early Development of Jared Sheldon – Sloughhouse to Rancho Murieta – circa 1843”

In this presentation we will explore the early Mill and canals of the Consumnes River development of Jared Sheldon. The canals and mill were designed and for the most part constructed by another early California pioneer Peter Lassen with evidence that some or all of the water wheel components were sawn by the former President of the Bear Flag Republic, William B. Ide. Come and help unravel this long forgotten patchwork of history.

November and December – Holiday Recess

Please understand these history presentations are for you to learn about the rich history of our community. It’s an hour of amazing people sharing what they know with a power point presentation and often several artifacts. Please considering coming and see for yourself.

They are all on the third Monday evenings of the month, at 6:30 pm at our usual place, the Presbyterian Church at 8153 Elk Grove Boulevard. Turn north on to Big Horn and it’s behind the Chevron Station, Suite 50.

Always FREE, open to the public, and we provide refreshments.

Annual Events

The Elk Grove Historical Society, besides our speaker series, hosts, supports and/or partners with EIGHT specific events through the year,

Here are the next on the calendar:

2023

4. Yard Sale: June 22, 23, 24, 25

5. Founders Day and The Elk Grove Historical Society’s Elizabeth Pinkerton History Award presentation, Dedication of the Blacksmith Statue

The first Saturday of September 2nd a Free event

6. The Mahon Ranch Hop & Brew Fest – September 17

Usually held the third Saturday in September at the Mahon Ranch (10171 Grantline Road, Elk Grove, 95624)

7. Black Tie and Santa: Sunday, November 26

The last Sunday of November at the museum from 6:00 am to 9:00 pm

8. Old Fashion Christmas

The first three weekends of December before Christmas

9. Miscellaneous Activities

We also enjoy speaker presentations (see above), free first Saturday tours, bus trips, dedications, and special events that will vary from year to year. We always need volunteers and appreciate any help anyone cares to give. Just leave a message on the museum phone (916) 685-8155

2024

1. Big Day of Giving: May 2, 2024

Always the first Thursday in May. A 24-hour online event, but from 10:00 to 3:00 the museum will be open to help with your donations.

2. Civil War Days: May 4-5, 2024

Always the first weekend in May at the Mahon Ranch (10171 Grantline Road, Elk Grove, 95624)

3. Spring Tea: May 11, 2024

Always the Saturday before Mothers Day at the museum

Tickets unavailable for purchase until March 2024: https://eghistory.org/shop/ols/products/spring-tea-ticket

4. Yard Sale: June 2024 – Dates undecided at this point

Usually the third weekend in June at the museum, 4 days from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm

First Saturday and Virtual Museum Tours

The Museum (Heritage Park) and Rhoads School are open for FREE tours every first Saturday of each month (February through October) from noon to 4:00 pm (Rhoads School 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm) or upon request. We close in November to get ready for our “Old Fashioned Christmas” event.

We also have made a short six minute virtual tour video to give you an idea on what you may experience when you visit. Click here for the YouTube link.