This rustic Gold Rush town is a historical landmark! Located in El Dorado County, just west of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range on Historic Highway 49, the entire town of Georgetown is registered as a California Historical Landmark. Georgetown sprung up during the California Gold Rush of the mid-1800s and was nicknamed Growlersburg because the large gold nuggets miners discovered “growled” in their mining pans.
Numerous plaques all over the downtown area describe historical buildings and figures who founded the town. Even for tourists who aren’t major history buffs, Georgetown is a great place to breathe in the fresh mountain air, meander around the small downtown, and grab a bite to eat at one of the restaurants.
At over 2,600 feet in elevation, Georgetown’s beautiful architecture looks especially stunning against the backdrop of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. You can easily do a self-guided tour. The town is small and the plaques are plentiful! Here are some of the must-see historical sites: