Commercial Street

By late 1849, Auburn was a mining camp of importance. In 1851, it became the County Seat and was considered the crossroads of the Mother Lode.
Old Auburn Historic District received National Register status on December 12, 1970. Except for paving and power lines, it has changed little since the Gold Rush.
301-351
Commercial Street
Built: circa 1857

All the buildings on Commercial Street have bearing walls of fired brick.




Store interiors have been altered to accommodate various businesses, but the fronts appear much like they did in early days. Stroll Commercial street, read the plaques on each building and notice the varied roof lines. Each building has its own story to tell.

The Placer County Bank building, located in the middle of the block, was the site of a famous robbery. A local man, Adolph Weber, committed the crime. Weber also killed his family and burned down their house so they would not turn him in for the robbery. Weber's trial was held in Auburn, but he was hung at Folsom Prison where a two to three inch piece of souvenir rope sold for $1.50 after the hanging. The Patricide Law came into being as a result of the Weber trial.

At the time of the bank robbery, the bottom store on Commercial Street housed Snowden's Drug Store. The Snowden home, built in 1855, overlooks Old Town Auburn from its location on the top of "Snowden Hill," opposite (south of) Commercial Street. Commercial Street is listed on the National Register.