Folsom launches unique multimedia walking tour featuring the city's rich history

Did you know there used to be a small overnight jail building in Historic Folsom? Or that Chinese immigrants once made up half the city's population? Interesting facts such as these are part of a new "walking tour" the city of Folsom is rolling out for the community. The tour offers an interactive map and multimedia storytelling which feature brief accounts of some of Folsom's most iconic spots and rich history. The new Historic Folsom Walking Tour makes it a lot easier for residents to take the charming city tour by foot or even click on the various destination spots from the comfort of their own home while they delve into the stories that helped build the city into what it is today. The tour is hosted through the STQRY app and includes the interactive map with historic pictures and brief audio stories visitors can listen to, which give a brief history lesson on the various featured spots. For instance, the tour teaches visitors about the origin of how Leidesdorff Street got its name: It's named after William Alexander Leidesdorff, a prominent multi-racial San Francisco businessman and politician. There's also a photo and brief story about the Folsom Fire House, which was constructed in 1929 by Pratt & Lohman to create a permanent site for the Folsom Volunteer Fire Department following the demolition of the Fireman's Hall in 1914. Other historic stops include stories about gold panning, the early Powerhouse site, the Folsom Town Jail on Leidesdorff, the Historic Railroad Turntable and Depot and much more. Both city residents and visitors are invited to explore the new self-guided walking tour, which is intended to highlight the people, places and innovations that helped build the community into what it is today. The project was developed by the City of Folsom, Folsom Public Library, Folsom History, Folsom Historic District Association, Visit Folsom and California State Parks. Learn more at www.folsom.ca.us/HistoricWalkingTour.