Folsom is a small city on the American River, about 32 kilometres east of Sacramento, that carries two very different identities. One is a prosperous Sacramento suburb with a pleasant historic downtown; the other is the Folsom State Prison, made immortal by Johnny Cash, who recorded his celebrated live album there in January 1968 in front of an audience of inmates. Both identities are real, and both are worth exploring.
The old part of town clusters around Historic Sutter Street, a Gold Rush–era main drag lined with stone and brick buildings that survived the boom and bust of the 1850s. Folsom was an important stop on the Pony Express and one of the first places in California to receive hydroelectric power — the Folsom Powerhouse on the American River gorge transmitted AC electricity all the way to Sacramento in 1895, helping settle the War of the Currents in favour of Tesla's system. The Folsom Depot, built in 1856, was the western terminus of California's first railway and is still in service as a light rail station.
The river defines the place. Folsom Lake State Recreation Area, held back by Folsom Dam, stretches north of the city and draws swimmers, kayakers, and cyclists to its shores. The American River Bike Trail connects Folsom to Sacramento along 45 kilometres of shaded riverside path.
The Folsom Prison Museum tells the prison's story including Cash's famous 1968 concerts, while the Johnny Cash Trail near the riverbank celebrates his legacy with large outdoor murals. Folsom is an easy day trip from Sacramento, or a useful overnight stop if you are following the Gold Country corridor south toward Auburn or Placerville.