Summer in Placer County is shaping up to be a cultural extravaganza for history buffs and the casually curious alike. The Heritage Trail Museums Tour, now in its sweet 16, is throwing open the doors of 29 museums and historical sites for free. From next Saturday through September 6, a journey through Placer County's past won't cost you a dime, as reported by the Placer County Museums.
It's the kind of community initiative that aims to effortlessly bind, not just inform. "We are delighted to welcome everyone back to explore Placer County’s rich history with the Heritage Trail Museums Tour," Ralph Gibson, Placer County Museums Administrator, told Placer County Museums. Along with free admission, visitors can expect to thoroughly enjoy a variety of activities spanning live music to historical reenactments on select dates. The free days' specifics, alongside opening times, can be found on the Heritage Trail Museums Tour website.
The kickoff is set for June 7 in Rocklin at the Sierra College Natural History Museum and, for the more technologically minded, in Roseville at three locations including the Maidu Museum and Historic Site. Wrapping up the season of free admissions, the Museum of Truckee History and companions in Truckee will close out the tour on September 6.
As an added incentive, the Heritage Trail is offering a 'Get Up and Go' card. Those ambitious enough to collect stamps from at least four museums will have their names thrown into a hat for a gift basket drawing. And let's not forget the students—those entering pre-school through 12th grade come fall have the chance to win nifty prizes like a Samsung Galaxy tablet just by completing a scavenger hunt card available at participating museums.
Even if the scheduled free days don't sync with your own summer plans, the museums are open year-round. The 'Get Up and Go' cards are still stamp-worthy during regular business hours, keeping the trail walkable even outside the designated dates. More information on everything from events to education can be found at Placer County's own museum website for the culturally inquisitive who are looking to plan their summer museum circuit.
