The Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park is a California State Park located at Coloma in the location of James Marshall's 1848 discovery of Gold in the bed of the South Fork of the American River. The Park includes original artifacts from the Gold Rush Era plus some recreations. There is a $5 per car fee to support the park. Pack your family, neighbors, cousins and all the citizens of Andorra into your car and visit this fine park.

The easiest way to Coloma is to take State Route 50 from Sacramento East or South Lake Tahoe West to the State Route 49 (of course) turnoff just East of Placerville (nee Hangtown). It is about ten miles of winding, scenic road to Coloma. You can take a longer route (20 miles) on State Route 49 from Interstate 80 going South from Auborn.

At Coloma take Sacramento Street to Main. Park near the The Coloma Blacksmith Shop. The tour will loop back to here. The walking tour is about a mile. At the end of the walking tour you should go back up the hill to the James Marshall Monument for the overview of the valley. This is about 2 miles of steep climbing or you can drive.

Gold Discovery Museum

From Main, take Brewery Street to Back Street going east to the Museum to the Northeast. The Museum will collect your $5 per car fee good for the entire park and includes information such as a map and exhibits relating to the discovery of gold and the gold rush.

Mining Exhibit

Walk South from the Museum to see examples of early mining equipment for placer, hard-rock and hydraulic mining. The area was originally part of the downtown. Later, when mining was less profitable and the buildings no longer needed, they were torn down because no one had mined under their own beds, as it were.

Chinese Stores

Walk Southeast from the Museum to Main Street and turn left to pass a long building containing a series of stores once run by Chinese during the Gold Rush. These structures were not destroyed in the fire of 1883.

Bedrock Mortar

Continue walking after the Chinese Stores parallel to Main Street until you come to the Bedrock Mortar and displays of other means of separating gold from rock. In 1848 the main form of energy was a man's back or a horse. Of course water-power was also used wherever possible and that was what started it all.

Mill Site

Walk South to the South Fork of the American River to find the site of Sutter's Mill being built by Sutter's partner, James Marshall. This river begins near Echo Summit in the Sierras above and ends in Folsom Lake at the edge of the Central Valley. All the Sierra rivers washed gold down stream as rocks eroded away and deposited it in holes and sand bars along the river. This naturally simulates the riffle box used by early miners to separate gold from gravel.

The mill site was chosen because it was near Sutter's Fort, had timber and sufficient water power to saw that timber into lumber to be used for new settlements by the Fort. The original mill was washed away by flood waters in the 1850s although foundation timbers remained here until 1924. The American River was named by Californios because Americans came seemingly out of nowhere after traveling west.

Gold Discovery Site

Walk East along the river to find the site of Marshall's 1848 discovery of gold in the gravel of the American River. This discovery started tens of thousands of emigrants from the Eastern U.S. the following year becoming the original basis for the Forty Niner Football Team.

Sutter's Sawmill Replica

Sutter's Sawmill which should be called the Sutter-Marshall Sawmill as Marshal was a partner, has been replicated near the modern bridge over the river. Backtrack Southwest from the Gold Discovery Site. Notice the large diameter of the water wheel compared to the small diameter hub that operated the saw which allows strong short strokes to quickly cut logs into lumber.

Original Foundation Timbers

Original foundation timbers, uncovered by river flooding in 1924 thereby locating the original mill site, are displayed behind glass to the Northwest of the Mill Replica.

Town Tour

The original area of Coloma along Main Street is recreated in a half mile walk to the West. Over two dozen structures may be visited and are explained by signs at each site giving a description and history. You can stop and have ice cream and other refreshments. This will take you to your car if you parked near the Blacksmith's.

James Marshall Monument Tour

This moderately difficult hike of about a mile starts at the Bedrock Mortar and a half includes a 250 foot climb. At the top is the promised Monument built over James Marshall's grave in 1889 from which you can overlook the valley below. The return hike is down the one-way road past Marshall's Cabin to Church Street where St. John's Church and Emmanual Church were built in the 1850s. On your way down High Street you will pass the Noteware-Thomas House, a restored residence sometimes open for tours as well as the stone ruins of the old El dorado County Jail on Back Street.

Further Information

Call 530 622-0390 for further information.