2025 Raise the Barn Banquet
THE Eg Barn Project
Our Vision
- The Elk Grove Historical Society (EGHS) has long planned to rebuild the hay barn that once stood on the site of the Heritage Park next to the historic 1850 Elk Grove House and Stage Stop. From the County of Sacramento, we are obtaining the historic redwood for the outside and inside finish of the hay barn. The 1940s dense, select, all-heart stuctural redwood beams are the heart of our hope to replace the hay barn with historical material that will define this barn as a unique venue.
Our Design
- The design of the barn will be approximately 100 feet long and 75 feet wide, with the loft primarily for storage.
Inside Concept
- The ground floor will be available for rentals, weddings, non-profit fund raisers, parties, and other events, etc.).
Elk Grove Fundraiser Aims to Preserve the City's History
By James Taylor, CBS13 Photojournalist
August 23, 2024 / 11:25 PM PDT / CBS Sacramento
ELK GROVE — A community fundraiser is being held to help show off the rich history of Elk Grove.
While the city is working to bring a new zoo to town and thousands of new homes are being built, other efforts are now underway to preserve the past.
Jim Entrican is one of the people working to save Elk Grove's history. It starts right along Highway 99 with Elk Grove's first building, which was originally built in 1850—the same year California became a state.
"We try to preserve the history as best we can," Entrican said. "It's a shame that some of the older buildings have been taken down."
The site is now known as Heritage Park and includes a blacksmith shop, a pioneer home, and even an outhouse. However, Entrican's biggest ambition is going to be built on a vacant spot, recreating an old wooden barn that was once here.
"It will be 75 feet wide and 100 feet long, and 3 stores high," he said.
But a modern-day barn raising isn't cheap. That's why the historical society is holding a series of fundraising events to help with the estimated million-dollar cost.
"People need to learn their history, and they need to learn from their history," said Laurajean Lawrence, an Elk Grove resident.
The barn will help preserve a collection of historic carriages and wagons and can also be used for community events. It will be built from old redwood beams that are part of a bridge along Franklin Boulevard that is being decommissioned.
"The inside will be polished wood," Entrican said. "The outside will be rough cut."
The preservation effort comes at a time when Elk Grove is rapidly growing with the population expected to reach 300,000 in less than 20 years.
"It was a small town and now it's a good-sized city," Lawrence said.
Entrican added that it's important to save Elk Grove's history for future generations, saying that "50 or 100 years from now, all the people that are here now will be old and their stuff will be preserved in there."
Tours of Elk Grove's Heritage Park are free and are available the first Saturday of each month and by appointment.