Jeff's $1000 Historical Society matching fund

The Folsom Historical Society (FHS) operates three museums in Folsom's historic district - the Folsom History Museum, Pioneer Village living history site and the currently under construction Chinese Heritage Museum. FHS highlights Folsom's unique place in California history through exhibits, digital engagement, educational programming, and hands-on learning experiences. FHS houses an impressive collection that includes artifacts, photos, textiles, documents, and more that are representative of Native Americans, pioneers, miners, and Folsom's residents throughout the years.

Local residents founded the Folsom Historical Society in 1960 as an educational nonprofit with a core mission focus on the preservation and promotion of local history. The first major accomplishment of this devoted group of volunteers was averting the demolition of the century old Wells Fargo Assay Office on Sutter Street. This building eventually became home to the Folsom History Museum. 

Education has always been a primary focus of the Folsom Historical Society. Despite the lingering COVID-19 pandemic, the Society has successfully reopened its doors and made our first steps toward an era of enhanced engagement with the community.  Looking toward the future, we are creating a blueprint for reinventing our entire organization as we begin the design process for the Chinese Heritage Museum.

Our mission is all about connection – with our history and with one another across the generations. After reopening post Covid in 2021, the museum took on a new set of initiatives to better engage our community in an exploration of our history. These included:

• Our holiday season highlight in the History Museum, the delightful “Let’s Play: Vintage Toys from 1870s-1970s” exhibit, has included bringing whole families – grandparents, parents, and children – together to enjoy historic games.
• At Pioneer Village, our holiday weekend “makerspace” has introduced young and old to the joy of creation. The parents of one 3-year-old who stopped by were surprised and delighted to see their toddler dive into the activities, from painting a holiday ornament and candle votive to helping create a tin punch star design. 
• Our Archives & Research Department continues working actively to connect families, communities, and the world to Folsom’s past. For example, a grandchild of one Folsom notable, noticed a biographical sketch on our website and reached out for more information and photographs from the archive. 

The opening of our new permanent exhibition in April of 2022 titled:  Folsom: A History of Innovation. Through artifacts, low tech hands-on experiences, and immersive graphic environments the revamped exhibit invites residents and visitors alike to explore our city’s dynamic and innovative past. This new exhibit space opening in April 2022 will serve as the backdrop for reengaging various communities in their memories, connections, and continued hopes for Folsom.