Entry No. 33 — the Sacramento file — filed under: hangtown

Hangman's Tree Ice Cream Saloon

In 1849 a vigilante mob hanged accused robbers from an oak tree on this exact spot — the reason Placerville was called Hangtown for its first century. The tree's stump is reportedly still under the building's foundation, and a mannequin nicknamed George still hangs from a noose above the entrance of what is now, incongruously, an ice cream parlor marked as California Historical Landmark No. 141.

The move: Split a scoop under the hanging dummy out front, then read the landmark plaque marking the exact hanging site under your feet.

• 📍 Placerville (Hangtown)
• 💸 $$
• ⚡ Up for anything
• 🌗 Indoors

Where: 305 Main Street, Placerville, CA 95667

Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Further reading: Wikipedia

last checked: 2026-07-20