While the Old Town Walking Tour brings the visitor to the early beginnings of Auburn, and the nearby Bernhard Museum Grounds Tour treats guests to experience the oldest building in town, this Downtown Walking Tour features the growth and development of the community as it expanded in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The tour is a leisurely, partly downhill .6 miles (one-way) stroll from the Gold Rush Museum to City Hall. The Placer County Museum and Old Town are just beyond where you can find plenty of places to stop for a rest and some food or refreshment before heading back to the Gold Rush Museum. The walk back is largely flat but with a couple of notable inclines.
The tour begins at 601 Lincoln Way which is a historic train depot as well as the current home of Placer County's Gold Rush Museum.
Head downhill on Lincoln Way and the Hotel Auburn will be on the left side of the street.
Across the street and a little further down the hill you will find the Placer County Bank.
Keep headed down the hill until you reach the stoplight. Across the intersection stands The Tahoe Club building.
Take a left to stay on Lincoln Way and head down to Central Square where you'll find a statue of a Nisenan man as well as several sidewalk tiles featuring historical figures from Auburn's past. Across the street to the left is a stand of five buisness which is also the site of the Auburn Opera House.
Around the corner from where the Opera House would have been is Lewis Street. Head up Lewis Street and Saint Luke's Church will be on your right.
Turn around and head back toward Central Square. Once you reach the corner, look to the left and you'll see the side of the old Firehouse/City Hall.
From City Hall, head back to the Central Square intersection and look across Central Square to get a nice view of the Masonic Hall.
From in front of the Masonic Hall, continue down Lincoln Way. On the left, you should see the Marquee of the State Theater.
Keep heading down Lincoln Way for a few steps and Almond Street runs into Lincoln Way. At the top of Almond Street is the old Auburn Library.
Head back down the hill and take a right on Lincoln Way. Keep going up and over the rise in the hill. As you come down the other side the Auburn Grammar School will be on your left.
Directly across the street from the Auburn Grammar School is the Odd Fellows Hall.
This completes the Self-Guided Downtown Auburn Walking Tour. If your interest in local history has not been satisfied, feel free to continue on to the Old Town Walking Tour!
