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| Landmark #402 | Placer County | Visited: July 11, 2015 | Plaque? YES! 🙂 |
| What is it? | A plaque in the community of Michigan Bluff! |
| What makes it historical? | THE GUIDE SAYS: Founded in 1850 and first known as Michigan City, the town was located on the slope one-half mile from here. Leland Stanford, who gained wealth and fame in California, operated a store in Michigan City from 1853 to 1855. In 1858 the town became undermined and unsafe so it was moved to this location and renamed Michigan Bluff.
OTHER TIDBITS: Specifically, what led to the literal fall of Michigan City was that the hydraulic mining washed away all of the land under the houses so that they began to fall into the river! Ironically, after hydraulic mining was outlawed in 1883, the town’s population began to fall off, because it was so dependent on its own destruction! Also, this was where Mr. Stanford held his first talks about rail travel, which led to him becoming one of the Big Four of the Central Pacific Railroad! |
| How can I Help the Helpers? | HERE’S HOW:
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| Where is this place? | LISTED DIRECTIONS: Intersection of Gorman Ranch and Auburn-Foresthill Rds Michigan Bluff, CA 95631 ANNOTATIONS: From Los Angeles: ~445mi (717km) — 7.5hrs |
| When should I go? | Whenever the mood strikes you! |