The inaugural Hangtown Wild West & Steampunk Festival took place May 21 and 22 in Placerville, California, offering a program that included Old West historical exhibits and re-enactments, along with live music and steampunk vendors.

Placerville, about 40 miles east of Sacramento, was a major center of the 1849 California Gold Rush. At the time, it was known as “Hangtown” due to local residents’ notorious use of frontier justice.

Fortunately, this year’s event had a friendlier vibe, and it was all for a good cause as the proceeds benefited El Dorado Gold 1848, a non-profit seeking to create a local history museum.

Thanks to Clara Blackheart for allowing use of her photos, which you can see in the gallery below. Andrei Pischalnikoff also took some photos.

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Hangtown Wild West & Steampunk Festival

Nathaniel and Clara Blackheart. Photo by Andrei Pischalnikoff.

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Hangtown Wild West & Steampunk Festival

Hanging out with the Black Flag Gang. Photo by Andrei Pischalnikoff.

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Hangtown Wild West & Steampunk Festival

Nathaniel with Greg Price of Steamy Tech. Photo by Clara Blackheart.