Folsom History

Folsom History brings together three distinct sites in Folsom's historic district — the Folsom History Museum, The Square, and the Chinese Heritage Museum — to explore Folsom's remarkable and diverse past. Through exhibits, digital engagement, educational programming, and hands-on experiences, we connect visitors of all ages to the stories that shaped this region.

As we grow, we are evolving our model: activating The Square as a hands-on destination, deepening our collection stewardship, and developing the Chinese Heritage Museum as both an interpretive space and a civic gathering place for the Folsom community.

Our mission is to inspire an innovative future together by connecting Folsom to its inventive roots. Over the past year we have:

• Expanded hands-on field trip programming and introduced new workshops at both the museum and The Square, reaching more than 1,000 students annually through immersive, place-based learning
• Launched three new exhibits: Fightin' the Flames, tracing the Folsom Fire Department from its 1857 founding to the present, Peculiar Pieces of the Past, showcasing the most unusual objects in our collection, and the current Ride 'Em Cowboy! which highlights the impact of the Folsom Pro Rodeo on our community since its founding in 1963
• Activated The Square with new furnishings and supplies, making it a stronger destination for school workshops and weekend maker programs
• Advanced a clean blacksmithing initiative at The Square, transitioning to inductive forges as a cleaner alternative to coal-burning forges — supporting local commissions, school demonstrations, and public programming, and positioning Folsom History as a regional leader in sustainable blacksmithing
• Adopted a new Collections Policy, approved by the Board in March 2025, refocusing our collection on Folsom's history and establishing clear standards for acquisition and care
• Dramatically expanded our digital reach — growing from under 400 followers to more than 2,000 across Facebook and Instagram, with over 280,000 views in 2025
• Launched History Makers, an annual dinner recognizing individuals whose civic contributions have shaped the Folsom community

Moving into 2026, Folsom History is focused on growth: activating all three sites as vibrant public destinations, developing new partnerships, and expanding the ways our community engages with Folsom's history.