Detailed account of the 1848 gold discovery in Coloma, California, providing a vivid historical context
exploration of the town's evolution from a transient mining boom to a permanent community
Examination of Coloma's legacy as a state park and its impact on local culture and recreation
Engaging storytelling by Betty Sederquist, making history accessible and relatable
Summarized by Shop
A chance discovery on January 24, 1848, profoundly shaped the destiny of California—and the world. On this day, in a river valley that quickly became the town of Coloma, James W. Marshall found gold in the tailrace of a sawmill he was building for John Sutter. The discovery precipitated the largest gold rush in history, bringing an estima