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On January 24, 1848, James Marshall, a superintendent in charge of building a sawmill for his boss John Sutter, discovered gold here in the South Fork of the American River. And so began the California Gold Rush, an event that profoundly affected the history of the American West. The town is now a state park and a mecca for whitewater rafters. James Marshall is buried on a hilltop overlooking the valley; an elaborate monument topped by a statue of Marshall honors the discoverer of gold. Come here for picnicking, hiking, or gold panning. Or immerse yourself in the amazing history of this town. Several times a year docents dress in old-time costume.

Marshall Gold Discovery Site State Historic Park

Coloma.com. Take a look at this well put-together commercial site.

A few photo portfolios by Betty Sederquist:

Scenic photos of the South Fork of the American River (plus a couple of Tahoe images just to mix things up).

Whitewater rafting on the South Fork, most popular whitewater river in the West.

For a great book of historic photos of Coloma, check out Images of America: Coloma, by Betty Sederquist.

Rodney Bland is often found in the park demonstrating gold panning.

Often, docents dress in Gold rush era costume and demonstrate old time crafts. Here a docent shows a young visitor how to play a game of "traveling checkers."

During the Gold Rush, most miners lived in tents. If they were fortunate, they might have furnished them as opulently as this one.

Do not copy without permission.