The Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge for the week of February 7, 2018.

What do you love about where you live? Show us!

I spend a lot of time on this blog sharing images from my local area and writing about how lucky I am to live here. What I love about this area is the sense of history buried just underneath the surface, so easy to overlook as the urban landscape constantly changes — but still simple enough to find if you’re willing to take a few side trips.

Within walking distance of my house are sections of the Lincoln Highway and several historic bridges, including the 1893 Pennsylvania Petit steel truss and the concrete arch Rainbow Bridge, constructed in 1917. Both bridges cross the American River near Sutter Street in Folsom.

In and around the city of Folsom you’ll find a 19th century dam and canal connecting to one of the oldest hydroelectric facilities in the world; the 1895 Folsom Powerhouse sent electricity downstream to Sacramento 22 miles away, and it continued in operation up until November 1952.

Original Folsom Dam, built in 1893

Wall of East Canal, carrying water from Folsom Dam to Powerhouse

Headgate screws, East Canal

Debris screen between canal and forebay

Powerhouse forebay

1895 Powerhouse, Folsom

Even before the Industrial Revolution, this stretch of the American River was a popular place; it was home to the native Miwok Indians — and in 1849 the California Gold Rush brought men and women from around the world to Negro Bar and Mississippi Bar. The Chinese came to mine for gold in the 1850s and remained to help build the western end of the transcontinental railroad. Remnants from their daily lives along this stretch of the American River continue to be discovered.

Young Wo Cemetery, Folsom

Indian grinding rocks on the American River