James Marshall Gold Discovery State Park
Marc suggested we went on a day trip out of the city recently. He had Sutter's Mill in the town of Coloma in mind. Its importance lies in the fact that it was here where people from all over the world came in 1849 to look for California gold.
It is said that few Forty Niners intended to remain in California permanently. Many of them had come to seek their fortune and then return home. However, many sent for their families and stayed on. Many others followed and became permanent residents.
It has been reported that over the next fifty years beginning 1849, approximately 125 million ounces of gold were found and taken from here.
The American River was busy on the day of our visit. There were lots of people boating.
The Post Office
The Blacksmith Shop
The ruins of the El Dorado County Jail within the historic state park
A rear view of the El Dorado County Jail
By the ruins of the El Dorado County Jail
This was a jail cell as well.
The Gold Discovery Museum
This museum located within the park tells the story of John Sutter and James Marshall. It has a viewing room where films about the Gold Rush era are shown. Moreover, there are also Indian artifacts, murals, mining equipment, and horse drawn vehicles.
A picnic area
This Chinese Mercantile Store built during the Gold Rush era is called the Wah Hop building
The main door and entrance to the over century old Chinese Store
In front of the Chinese Store. I loved the vignette inside.
This is what one sees inside the Chinese Store. There was even a table where patrons could eat.
A rear view of the Chinese Store
Elsewhere in the park, visitors can rest and eat at these tables.
This building which resembles the Chinese Mercantle Store actually houses a museum about the park. It traces the history of the place with emphasis on the Gold Rush of 1849.
The replica of the Sutter's Mill
A side view of the Sutter's Mill
A rear view of the Sutter's Mill
The American River viewed from another section of the park
Deer was everywhere
The James Marshall Monument
Another view of the James Marshall Monument
St. John's Church built in 1858
A close up view of St. John's Church
John Marshall's cabin in the woods a few yards away from the Catholic Church
The cemetery behind the church was not very big although it had a number of graves in it. What stood out for me was the number of Irish immigrants buried here. A lot came from different towns of the present day Republic of Ireland and the names where the deceased residents of the area came from were proudly written across the gravestones.
