Folsom's history begins with the Southern Maidu and Nisenan indigenous people who have long called the area home. The city’s Nisenan Community Park honors the history of these native people who lived in harmony with the land.

The first gold-seekers, known as 49ers, rushed to sites along the American River where the town of Folsom began. The discovery of gold at John Sutter’s mill in nearby Coloma attracted prospectors to the region from around the world, hoping to strike it rich. African Americans were among the first to set up a mining camp now called Black Miners Bar, now under Lake Natoma. Mining operations spread throughout the Sierra Nevada, making the prospect of building a railroad from Sacramento to Folsom to bring supplies to miners, and to transport passengers, an attractive enterprise.

Folsom was named after Captain Joseph Libbey Folsom, who was born in Meredith, New Hampshire. He graduated from West Point and arrived in California with Colonel Stevenson’s 1st Regiment of New York Volunteers March 6, 1847, to serve as Quartermaster at San Francisco. When William Leidesdorff, a San Francisco businessman and civic leader, died in 1848, his estate included a 35,000-acre Mexican land grant east of John Sutter’s land grant. Capt. Folsom purchased the estate from the Leidesdorff heirs and hired Theodore Judah, railway engineer and surveyor, to lay out the town he called Granite City. The town site was recorded in Sacramento County December 28, 1855. Capt. Folsom died July 19, 1855, and his executors changed the town name to Folsom.

The influx of gold-seekers sailing into San Francisco created a demand for transportation to serve miners in the mountains. The Sacramento Valley Railroad was organized by a group of San Francisco businessmen in 1852. Charles Lincoln Wilson, who owned a steamship company, a toll road, and bridges, was the inspiration. Wilson hired Theodore Judah to lay out the route of a railroad from Sacramento to Folsom, 22 miles distant. In 1855, Capt. Folsom became the second president of the Sacramento Valley Railroad. The railroad made its first official run February 22, 1856. Today, light rail runs from Sacramento to Folsom on the line laid out by Judah.

In 1895, the first long-distance transmission of electricity took place at the Folsom Powerhouse in 1895. The transmission occurred over 22 miles from Folsom to Sacramento.

Folsom Dam construction began in 1948 and finished in 1955. The dam ushered in a surge of growth known as “Folsom’s second Gold Rush.”

Folsom Dam provided flood protection for Sacramento and hydroelectric power. It also provided water for domestic, commercial, and industrial use. The dam project created Folsom Lake and Lake Natoma. A state park surrounds both lakes.

The American River Watershed Project funded Folsom Dam upgrades beginning in 2007. The upgrades included Folsom Dam and auxiliary dam modifications and dike improvements. An auxiliary spillway was also added. The project provides increased flood protection and an extra 95,000 acre-feet of capacity.

Folsom is famous for its stunning bridges.

• The city’s logo features Rainbow Bridge. The bridge celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2019.
• The historic Truss Bridge opened in 1893. The bridge transported people, cattle, and vehicles across the American River. The Truss Bridge now serves as a connection for cyclists and pedestrians from Folsom’s Historic District to the American River Parkway Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail.
• The Lake Natoma Crossing opened in 1999.
• The Johnny Cash Trail and Bike/Pedestrian Overcrossing opened in 2014. The Robbers’ Ravine Bike/Pedestrian Bridge was added when the second phase of the trail opened in 2017.
• The four-lane Folsom Lake Crossing Bridge replaced the narrow two-lane Folsom Dam Road that crossed the lake on Folsom Dam. Following the 9/11 attacks, Dam Road was closed to the public for security reasons. Folsom Lake Crossing opened March 28, 2009.

The Lincoln Highway began as a coast-to-coast highway in 1913, connecting New York and California, the old highway went through Folsom near Beal's Point and downtown.

The Pony Express ran from April 1860 to October 1861 as a 10-day delivery mail service from Missouri to California. It employed horse-mounted riders and 150 relay stations with its Western Terminus located at Folsom's Assay Office.

The local Chamber of Commerce launched a campaign to incorporate Folsom as a city in 1946. The final vote was 285 in favor of incorporation and 168 opposed. Members of the first City Council were Leland Miller, Harry Patton, Eugene Kerr, Wendell Van Winkle, and Norbert Relvas. Hazel McFarland was elected city clerk and Wilma Hoxie served as the first treasurer. Council members elected Eugene Kerr as the city’s first mayor.

Johnny Cash’s famous “Folsom Prison Blues” placed Folsom in the spotlight. Cash performed at Folsom State Prison in the 1960s. The city opened the Johnny Cash Trail and Bike/Pedestrian Overcrossing in 2014. The amenity delights nature lovers and cyclists.

Rat Pack member Sammy Davis, Jr. performed at the prison in 1961. The talented singer, actor, and dancer treated prisoners to the same set he performed for Queen Elizabeth six days earlier.

Today, you can get a taste of history in Folsom’s revitalized Historic District. Enjoy dining, shopping, and nightlife while you soak up the historic architecture.

The Folsom Historical Society operates two museums in Folsom’s Historic District— the Folsom History Museum and Pioneer Village.

The Folsom History Museum provides an overview of Folsom’s rich history, including the history of its founding, the Gold Rush, railroad, pioneers, agriculture, and important businesses. Pioneer Village is an outdoor living history interpretive area featuring gold panning, a working blacksmith forge, and large-scale mining and agricultural equipment. The Folsom Historic District is also home to the future Folsom Chinese Heritage Museum, dedicated to telling the rich history of the Chinese in Folsom and in California.

You can also hear stories about Folsom’s past from a retired prison guard at the Folsom Prison Museum. This museum is located in front of the prison grounds.