Celebrate California’s Gold Rush at Marshall Gold Discovery Park in Coloma
Recent rains have turned the Sierra foothills bright green and increased river flows, but it’s real gold we’re seeking, with the anniversary of California’s gold discovery on Jan. 24, 1848. Take a road trip with us, to Coloma and Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, just a bit more than an hour from San Joaquin County.
In the 1840s, Sacramento’s Captain John Sutter was seeking lumber for his fast-growing empire and hired crews to find and build sawmills. He hired James Marshall, who explored the banks of the South Fork, American River, finding plenty of pine and fir trees and the fast-flowing American River, leading to development of a new mill and a town that would become Coloma.
On Jan. 24, 1848, Marshall spotted flecks of gold in the new mill’s tailrace. Despite efforts to keep the discovery quiet, news leaked out and ignited the largest mass migration in history as fortune-seekers throughout the USA and western hemisphere descended upon California. Prospectors poured in, staking claims and building cabins; Chinese merchants arrived, both mining and opening shops as the city of Coloma quickly bloomed with thousands of residents spread along the banks of the river.
The state park offers kids and adults every-day lessons in gold mining, from panning for gold to exploring the huge “California stamp mill“. Miners quickly realized a crude, hand-held or mule/horse powered “stamp” could crush ore into powder which could then be placer-mined for gold and silver. Eventually, huge water-powered stamp mills made of wood and iron were pounding out golden treasure and making small to large fortunes for some lucky miners.
The park is celebrating the anniversary of the gold discovery on Saturday, Jan. 27, from 10 to 3 p.m. Visit that day or other days and walk through California’s gold rush history, reflecting upon the discovery of gold 176 years ago (the discovery would quadruple California’s population from 1850 to 1860 and decimate California’s indigenous peoples, who once numbered almost 300,000 strong).
The park is located amongst towering oak trees along the banks of the fast-running South Fork of the American, and features the reconstructed mill, several historic Chinese merchant buildings, and homes and shops dating to the 1850s. Kids can explore the sobering remains of the Coloma jail built of native stone, slowly crumbling away.
After visiting Coloma, or before arriving, plan a stop in Placerville, Plymouth or Sutter Creek. Placerville, “Old Hangtown”, includes four blocks of downtown history reflecting the 1860s, including quaint shops, watering holes and interesting restaurants. Favorites include Powell’s Steamer and Pub (try the clam chowder), the Heyday Café and Sweetie Pies Restaurant and Bakery.
In Plymouth, just off Highway 49, find the regionally acclaimed restaurant, Taste, wowing epicureans since it opened a few years ago. Owners of Taste also developed the next-door boutique hotel, Rest, which gets high marks from several of our friends who have overnighted there.
Sutter Creek is possibly our favorite gold rush town with eight shady blocks lined with a wealth of historic building dating from the 1850s, many of them marked by plaques offering historical footnotes. Main Street features busy shops, galleries, restaurants, and more than a dozen wine tasting stops. Favorite restaurants include Hotel Sutter/Bellotti Inn, opened in 1860, and one of the oldest hotels still in continuous operation in the state. Cavana's Pub and Grub, in the 1860 Malatesta Building, is across the street, featuring full bar, tasty drinks and good pub food in an airy setting. Nearby Gold Dust Pizza offers a fine pie along the banks of the town’s namesake, Sutter Creek. And check Sutter Creek Theater, at 44 Main Street as a good reason to visit with a continuing series of regional and local talent: Suttercreektheater.com.
Footnotes: you’re invited to attend the upcoming Sierra Club meeting, featuring a travel presentation, “Updating your travel destinations bucket list” presentation by yours truly on Monday, Jan. 22 at 7 p.m., at Central Methodist Church, 3700 Pacific Avenue, Stockton. No charge; join us! And, don’t miss the upcoming Stockton Restaurant Week, January 19-28, (see visitstockton.org) as an opportunity to sample new epicurean options, and explore parts of your hometown!
For more information: Marshall Gold Discovery Park at Coloma, parks.ca.gov/page_id=484, Placerville, cityofplacerville.org; Plymouth, cityofplymouth.org; Sutter Creek, suttercreek.com.
Contact Tim, tviall@msn.com. Happy travels in your world!
This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: Celebrate California’s Gold Rush at Marshall Gold Discovery Park in Coloma
