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Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park
Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park
	The actual spot where James W. Marshall discovered gold in 1848
Location	Coloma, California, U.S.
Nearest city	Placerville, California
Coordinates	38°48′00″N 120°53′38″W / 38.800°N 120.894°W
Area	576 acres (233 ha)
Established	1942
Governing body	California Department of Parks and Recreation
California Historical Landmark
Official name	Marshall Monument
Reference no.	143
California Historical Landmark
Official name	Gold Discovery Site
Reference no.	530
California Historical Landmark
Official name	Coloma Road
Reference no.	748

Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park is a state park of California, United States, marking the discovery of gold by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in 1848, sparking the California Gold Rush. The park grounds include much of the historic town of Coloma, California, which is now considered a ghost town as well as a National Historic Landmark District. The park contains the California Historical Landmarks: a monument to commemorate James Marshall (#143),^[2] the actual spot where he first discovered gold in 1848 (#530)^[3] and Coloma Road (#748).^[4] Established in 1942,^[5] The park now comprises 576 acres (233 ha) in El Dorado County.^[6]

Features

The entire route of California State Route 153 lies within the park, and allows visitors to drive to the top of the hill where the monument to James W. Marshall stands. The Gold Discovery Museum features gold-rush-era exhibits including mining equipment, horse-drawn vehicles, household implements and other memorabilia. The American River Nature Center, operated by the American River Conservancy, features murals of local wildlife, hands-on exhibits, animal mounts and live small animals.

History

In 1886 the members of the Native Sons of the Golden West, Placerville Parlor #9, felt that the Marshall deserved a monument to mark the grave of the "Discoverer of Gold". In May 1890, five years after Marshall's death, Placerville Parlor #9 successfully advocated^[7] the idea of a monument to the State Legislature, which appropriated a total of $9,000^[8] for the construction of the monument and tomb, the first such monument erected in California. A statue of Marshall stands on top of the monument, pointing to the spot where he made his discovery in 1848. The monument was rededicated October 8, 2010 by the Native Sons of the Golden West, Georgetown Parlor #91, in honor of the 200th Anniversary of James W. Marshall's birth. The California Historical Landmark No. 143 marker is at 310 Back Street, 38°47′47″N 120°53′40″W / 38.7965°N 120.8945°W / 38.7965; -120.8945.^[9]

The old Coloma Road opened in 1847, it ran from Sutter's Fort to the city of Coloma. Marshall traveled the road to tell of his gold find to Captain John A. Sutter. During the 49ers gold rush thousands of miners traveled the road heading out to look for gold and claims.^[10]^[11] California's first stage line, California Stage Company, traveled the road starting in 1849, the line was founded by James E. Birch.^[12] The Coloma Road is a California Historical Landmark No. 748. A marker is in the Gold Discovery parking area at 38°48′08″N 120°53′34″W / 38.8023°N 120.8927°W / 38.8023; -120.8927.^[4] There is a second Coloma Road California Historical Landmark, No. 747, in Rescue, California.^[13]

Gallery

Park Main Entrance
James W. Marshall monument
James W. Marshall monument
James Marshall cabin in Coloma
California Historical Landmark Coloma Valley
Robert Bell's Store in Coloma
Wah Hop Store at Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park
California Historical Landmark Coloma Road
Mormon Workers Cabin at Sutter's Mill

References

^ "Feature Detail Report for: Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park". Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). USGS. 1981-01-19. Retrieved 2014-09-21.
^ ^a ^b "Marshall Monument". Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved 2012-10-07.
^ ^a ^b "Gold Discovery Site". Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved 2012-10-07.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Marshall Monument". Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved 2012-10-07.
^ "Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park" (PDF). California State Parks. 2013. Retrieved 2014-01-23.
^ "California State Park System Statistical Report: Fiscal Year 2009/10" (PDF). California State Parks. p. 20. Retrieved 2014-01-23.
^ "El Dorado". California State Parks. 2013. Retrieved 2014-01-23.
^ "Honored at Last - James Marshall". County of El Dorado. Archived from the original on December 4, 2010.
^ "Marshall Monument". Waymarking.com. Retrieved 2014-01-23.
^ "Coloma Road - Coloma (No. 748 California Historical Landmark) | Sierra Nevada Geotourism". sierranevadageotourism.org.
^ "CHL # 748 Coloma Road-Coloma El Dorado". www.californiahistoricallandmarks.com.
^ Hubert Howe Bancroft, History of California Volume 24, The History Company, 1890. pp. 151–152 and notes 46,47,48]
^ "Coloma Road #748". Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved 2012-10-07.