Placerville in El Dorado County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Johnson Cutoff Trail - Placerville

Photographed by Alvis Hendley, October 23, 2022

1. Johnson Cutoff Trail - Placerville

Inscription. "We have come four miles and come to a flourishing little town in the mountains. The original name of this town is Placerville.... Men are diging [sic] here in the middle of the streets in search of gold." - William H. Kilgore. Aug 5, 1850

Erected 2014 by Trails West, Inc. (Marker Number JC-30.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the California Trail series list. A significant historical date for this entry is August 5, 1850.

Location. 38° 43.5′ N, 120° 48.1′ W. Marker is in Placerville, California, in El Dorado County. It can be reached from Benham Street, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3071 Benham Street, Placerville CA 95667, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Sacramento Metro,

in the Gold Country,

in the Sierra Nevada,

and in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western

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Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Carson Trail - Placerville (here, next to this marker); "Stone House" (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); John A. "Snowshoe" Thompson (approx. 0.2 miles away); Snowshoe Thompson (approx. 0.2 miles away); Placerville Pony Express (approx. 0.2 miles away); Bayles Building (1853) (approx. ¼ mile away); The Forum Café/Union Hotel/United States Trio Hall (approx. ¼ mile away); Hangmans Tree (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Placerville.

More about this marker. The Carson Trail and the Johnson Cutoff Trail intersected here. The inscription for Carson Trail Marker 69 is on the other side of this T-marker.

The marker is next to the sidewalk, but it is obscured by perennial landscaping.

Photographed by Alvis Hendley, October 23, 2022

2. Johnson Cutoff Trail - Placerville

Photographed by Alvis Hendley, October 23, 2022

3. Johnson Cutoff Trail - Placerville

The marker is concealed by the landscaping at the base of the leaning utility pole.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 19, 2022. It was originally submitted on December 12, 2022, by Alvis Hendley of San Francisco, California. This page has been viewed 371 times since then and 44 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 12, 2022, by Alvis Hendley of San Francisco, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.