Gold Discovery Site

About Gold Discovery Site

James W. Marshall discovered gold in a valley known to the Nisenan Indians as Cullumah at the end of the 19th century. The event was the spark that ignited the West's spectacular growth in the decades that followed, leading to investments in gold mining and the creation of many other industries worth more than $1.5 billion.

It is the first time a gold find has been found in a US national park since it was discovered. The goal of the Gold Discovery Site State Park and the National Park Service is to preserve the gold and its surroundings so that people can observe, inspire, enjoy and accurately describe the history that unfolded at the time of the discovery and the gold rush.

The interpretation programme in the park covers mainly the period from 1847 to 1852, but also shows the development of the city of Coloma.

The discovery in 1848 changed the course of California's history and the nation's history, and the site in Coloma State Park marks the spot where James W. Marshall found a shiny gold stain in a sawmill built for John Sutter in the San Joaquin Valley.

Visitors can swim for gold in the American River, hike, picnic in floodplains and oak forests, and visit 20 historic buildings, including mining houses, schools and shops. Overlooking the beautiful gorge where the gold prospectors now rest, you can see their gold finds that were shown to you, as well as the original gold mine and the old sawmill.