Go for the Gold: Discovering Coloma's Gold Discovery Site and its Hidden Nuggets
By Carmel L. Mooney

Most Northern Californian's have heard of Coloma and certainly all Californian's have experienced the long lasting impact of a brisk winter morning back in January 1848.

That cold Monday morning, in his mid-thirties, a handyman and craftsman named James W. Marshall discovered flecks of a golden metal while inspecting a tailrace. "Boys," he said. "By God, I believe I have found a gold mine."

And the rest was history as our great state was formed and is still shaped today by the frenzy that followed.

A century and a half later, the magic still lingers for all to experience in the quaint gold rush town of Coloma, about an hour from Sacramento. Coloma makes the perfect day trip.

Nearly seventy percent of Coloma is made up of the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park. Many of the original buildings remain from the days that Marshall and other historical figures walked those same streets. The Gold Discovery Museum displays exhibits of mining equipment, film shows, and gold rush memorabilia.

One of the most prominent features in town is the life size replica of Sutter's Mill. But beyond the obvious treasures to enjoy, Coloma has many lesser-known hidden gems that require short hikes or drives preferably guided by a map. These include: Marshall's actual cabin, a beautiful towering Marshall monument and gravesite, an old jail, fascinating pioneer cemeteries, and several charming and intriguing small tucked away gold rush homes. There are also some gorgeous marked hikes that reveal nature and astonishing tidbits of history for the modern prospector. Visitors to Coloma can even gold pan and watch the blacksmiths create their wares.

Perhaps the most exciting aspect of Coloma today is a vast array of events throughout the year all providing opportunities for enjoyment and education including Gold Discovery Day complete with historic demonstrations, tours, and Gold Rush music, Sarah's Quilting Party another highlight for two days when women are honored for their contributions in everything from healing to politics, and yet another once a year event called Coloma Fest brings the Coloma-Lotus community together to celebrate rafting, hiking, dancing, art and history with speakers and wine and food sampling.

Days in the park occur the last Sundays of July, and August when costumed docents demonstrate life in the 1850's.

One fun diversion for the young and old is found at the Old Coloma Theatre where kids-at-heart love playing heckler while "booing and hissing" at the melodrama actors who bring to life exciting and hilarious plays.

Picnic spots throughout the town are the best bet so pack a lunch and head out this Spring to discover the hidden nuggets in Coloma.

Contact Info:
Olde Coloma Theatre 530-626-6701
Gold Discovery Park Association 530-622-6198

Operating Hours:
Daily Park Hours 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Museum and Building Hours: 10:00 am - 4:30 pm
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's.

Location-Directions:
The Park is located in Coloma on Highway 49 between Placerville and Auburn.