El Dorado County History

History - Home

There are lots of places that you can find information on local history (many links in this online book offer "history" of the area) ... you know, the stuff everyone already knows, like the gold rush. But, we came across a book written in 1883 on the History of El Dorado County. From our research we believe this text to be in the public domain, so we're going to be providing it, chapter by chapter here. All typos, grammatical errors, run-on sentences, and enormous paragraphs have been preserved to allow you a glimpse of writing styles of the time.

That being said, it's a delightful twist on the already well-known, so we'll take excerpts and images from that and other somewhat obscure sources, to help you find.... THE REST OF THE STORY (Oh, excuse me Paul Harvey)!

We'll also be adding things to this depiction of history as we can, like a map of the various locations, images of some of the places and structures still standing (or where they stood) if they are still locatable, and other historical accounts of the time that we locate. So have fun with what's here, and keep checking back. It's great fun learning more about this area... just be glad you're not the one typing it!! :-)

Note: I personally found the depiction of the Indians in this text so distasteful that I was hesitant to even copy the work for its historic value. I highly value the rich knowledge and traditions of all Native American tribes. As a descendent myself it was tough to hear the egocentric and naive views of early European settlers, but finally came to grips that that is the history, regardless of how any of us feel about it today.

China Walls

This area is full of what we've learned to call "China Walls", although scholars and amateur archaeologists have been puzzled by the walls' origins for over a century, due in large part to their apparent lack of purpose. The modest height would seem to rule out their function as fortifications, and the rambling start-and-stop patterns render them useless as corrals or containment fences.

So who built these walls and for what purpose? In 1904, Dr. John Fryer, professor of Oriental languages at UC Berkeley, declared: "This is undoubtedly the work of Mongolians... the Chinese would naturally wall themselves in, as they do in all their towns in China."

The popular and long-held notion that the walls were built by wandering visitors from Asia is not entirely without historical basis. In 1761, the noted French sinologist Deguignes returned to the West with accounts of a fifth century voyage by a group of Chinese Buddhist monks who claimed to have visited a distant land which they called Fusang. Some historians have interpreted descriptions of the voyage to support the idea that Fusang may have been California, though most agree it was more likely present-day Mexico.

There is a less far-fetched possibility that the walls were built using cheap and abundant Chinese labor left in California at the end of the Gold Rush although no direct evidence supports this view.

A turn-of-the-century ethnologist, Dr. Henry C. Meyers, PhD believed the walls were: "...Undoubtedly erected centuries ago...[could these be the work of the Aztecs? Or perhaps this is where the legendary tale of El Dorado was born.] Neither man nor men of the present day could possibly put the large stones of these walls in place without appliances of some kind."

Dr. Robert F. Fisher, the former president of the Mission Peake Heritage Foundation (there are many more such walls in the Bay Area) stated: "These walls are just enigmas. They predate the Indians. They predate the Spaniards. It doesn't fit in with any of the later history."

Excerpted from an article by Andy Asp

Indian Grinding Rocks

According to history books and the remaining Indians in the Gold Country, Miwok & Maidu Indian tribes split the southwestern portion of what is now El Dorado County. The Maidu tribe had vast territories to the north, while the Miwok were south with a small band along the coast.

When we show our respect for other living things, they respond with respect for us.

Arapaho proverb

Both of these tribes were hunter gatherers. The grinding rock shown was probably used to grind the acorns from the oak trees. This ground flour was eaten raw as a paste, used in soups and other dishes. Because it kept throughout the year, it was an essential part of the Indian diet.

[Author's note: Although a good amount of time was spent researching what Indian tribes lived in this area, the "experts" have only referred to the Miwok and Maidu. However, in the 1883 History of El Dorado County, there is at least one reference to the Piute and Digger Indian tribes. In search of the TRUTH, we've asked Mulder and Skully to help... their investigation is not over and they are asking for any help from Native Americans, historians, or others to help get to the bottom of this mystery. Here's some of what they found...

Thanks to a helpful, local Native American, we've learned that "Digger" and Miwok are the same since the 1920's or so.]

Early Conditions

When first visited by the Spaniards, California abounded in wild animals, some of which are now extinct. Of one of these, called by Spanish people "berendo," and by the naives "taye," Father Venegas says: "it is about the bigness of a calf a year and a half old, resembling it in figure except in the head, which is like that of a deer, and the horns very think like those of a ram; its hoof is large, round and cloven, and its tail short." This was the Argali, a species intermediate between the goat and sheep, living in large herds along the foot of the mountains, supposed to be a variety of the Asiatic argali. (more)

The First Napa Valley?

There is a lot of reference in history about this area being full of vineyards and wineries. In fact, in 1855, 3000 acres in grape vines planted according to county statistics.

Wine production was 108,981 gallons that same year.

Learn more by clicking here.

More about this subject as soon as our local experts have a chance. In the meantime, contact them by clicking here.

Historic Landmarks in Placer County

Historic Landmarks in El Dorado County

Historic Landmarks - California (by county)