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Thank you for joining us for our PORTS at Marshall Gold Discovery SHP!

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Thank you for joining us for our PORTS at Marshall Gold Discovery SHP!

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Please put any questions here!

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Visit our Parks Page to Learn More about Marshall Gold Discovery SHP!

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Visit our Parks Page to Learn More about Marshall Gold Discovery SHP!

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For the health and safety of our staff, many volunteers and the visiting public, we have made the difficult decision to cancel Christmas in Coloma scheduled for this coming weekend. The forecasted rain, wind and cold temperatures will limit outdoor activities and vendor participation and may adversely affect the historic building tour.

Reexamining Our Past at
Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park

State Parks is expanding its interpretation beyond what was once a narrow focus on memorializing the people and events leading up to the gold discovery and its immediate aftermath per the 1979 general plan. Today's efforts involve engaging in formal government-to-government tribal consultations, conducting archival research, and meeting with families whose history is connected to the Coloma Valley. This reflects a commitment to broadening the historical context and bringing forward those stories that were too often overlooked or marginalized in interpretation program and exhibits. Learn more at Reexamining Our Past at Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park.
Gam Saan Trail Opening
California State Parks, the Locke Foundation and members of the Chinese American community celebrated the opening of the Gam Saan (Gold Mountain in Cantonese) Trail on Friday, Feb. 11, 2022. This 2.5-mile trail connects Hennigsen Lotus Park in Lotus, CA with Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park. To learn more about the rich history of the Chinese forty-niners and miners in Coloma, view our press release.

Park Improvements

It doesn't matter where your adventure takes you at Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, you are likely to find staff and volunteers hard at work making improvements to the park's structures and facilities.

Emmanual Church

St. John's Church

Thomas House

Mining Methods: Stampmill

Signs and fixtures

Learn more about the recent improvements at the park.

The World Rushed In

James W. Marshall discovered gold in 1848 on the South Fork of the American River in the valley the Nisenan Indians knew as Cullumah (beautiful valley). This event led to the greatest mass movement of people in the Western Hemisphere and was the spark that ignited the spectacular growth of the West during the ensuing decades. The gold discovery site, located in the still visible tailrace of Sutter's sawmill in present day Coloma, California, is one of the most significant historic sites in the nation.

In 1848, James W. Marshall found shining flecks of gold in the tailrace of the sawmill he was building in partnership with John Sutter. This discovery changed the course of California's and the nation's history. See a replica of the original sawmill and over 20 historic buildings including a mining exhibit, Chinese store exhibits and schoolhouse exhibit.

Visitors have the opportunity to pan for gold in the American River and enjoy hikes and picnics under the riparian oak woodlands. Overlooking the beautiful river canyon is the Marshall Monument, California's first historic monument and the final resting place of James Marshall. The statue looks down on the river and points to the site of the gold discovery.

Park Information
Click here to see our volunteer opportunities
The best place to start your tour of Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park is at the visitor center and museum. Interpretive exhibits and programs tell the story of the gold discovery and make it come alive. Information about and a map of the park can be found in the visitor center.

About seventy percent of the town of Coloma is included in Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park and therefore subject to use fees. Since there are only about two hundred year-round residents in the town, the tree-lined streets of the park are memorably quiet and serene throughout much of the year.

The park features buildings that have survived from the gold rush, as well as many other reminders of that tumultuous period. The Gold Discovery Museum features gold-rush-era exhibits as well as exhibits on the Native Americans, the people of many cultures who came to California during the gold rush, and the agricultural history of the area. A number of films about the gold discovery and early mining techniques are also available upon request.
Gold Discovery Tour
Gold Discovery Tour / Gold Panning

Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park is pleased to offer visitors guided walking tours! This is a 45 minute walking tour of the park.

Our Gold Discovery Tour tells the story and visits the sites of the Coloma Valley before the discovery of gold by James Marshall. Learn about the events leading up to the discovery, the history of the California Gold Rush and the town of Coloma.
Gold Panning Lessons
Tours are offered at least twice a day, weather permitting (tours will NOT be given when the temperature is above 92 degrees). Tour cost is $3.00 per adult and $2.00 per child. We do not give tours on our event days including Coloma Gold Rush Live and Christmas in Coloma. Please come enjoy those events. Please call 530.622.3470 for availability.

Learn how to pan for gold by taking a 15 minute lesson with us, then spend the next half hour panning the troughs looking for garnets, fools gold, and real gold flakes!

Gold Panning lessons are being offered most days at 10 am, 11 am, 1 pm, 2 pm, and 3 pm. Please call 530.622.3470 for availability. Lessons are on a first come first serve basis for the public. For groups please call (530) 622-3069 to make a reservation.

Gold panning lessons will NOT be available when the temperature is above 92 degrees.

Get Social with Marshall Gold Discovery SHP

Visit the park virtually by following us on social media.

Junior Ranger Program

All youngsters are encouraged to become Junior Rangers at Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park. We recently released a new and improved Junior Ranger Program with additional activities and challenges for an improved Junior Ranger experience.

You'll learn about

James Marshall and the Gold Discovery

Different methods for mining gold

Plants and animals found in the area

The Native Americans who lived in this valley

The people of Coloma

The historic buildings in the park

Stop by our visitor center to pick up a copy of the Junior Ranger booklet and start exploring! Or, you can download the booklet here.

For more information, call (530) 622-3470.

Additional Information

Seasons & Recommended Clothing
Summer and spring are warm; fall and winter can be cool. Layered clothing is advised.

River Flow
For current river flow, please click on the link to be redirected.

Disclaimer
Gold panning, tours, the blacksmith shop, and other scheduled activities may be closed/cancelled due to extreme weather, poor air quality conditions, inclement weather, or emergencies. For the latest information, please call the Gold Discovery Museum at (530) 622-3470; You can also email marshallgoldshp@gmail.com for additional information.

Group Reservations 2022-23
Sutter's Mill
Check school and group information page for change in reservation dates and procedures.
School and Group Information

Location & Directions
(Photograph by Mike Fuller)
The park is located in Coloma, California on Highway 49 between Placerville and Auburn.

From US Highway 50 traveling East: Take the Ponderosa exit, turn left on South Shingle, take a right on North Shingle. Continue on North Shingle for 10 miles (North Shingle will turn into Green Valley Road, then Lotus Road). Lotus Road ends at CA HWY 49. Turn right on Highway 49 and go 1 mile to Coloma.

From US HWY 80 traveling East: Take the Elm Ave. exit and turn left. Take a left on CA HWY 49/CA HWY 193/South El Dorado Street. Continue on Highway 49 for approximately 13 miles. Highway 49 runs through the middle of Coloma.

Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park
Although small amounts of gold had been found in other parts of California, it was the gold discovery at Sutter's mill that received world-wide attention in 1848. The discovery caused one of the largest mass-migrations in history, bringing people to California from all over the world. Most prospectors who came did not strike it rich in the gold fields and returned home, but about ten percent stayed in California. Those who stayed contributed to California's unprecedented rapid commercial, agricultural and industrial development and statehood in 1850.

The full Geo Gems report | Geological Gems of State Parks

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California State Parks, State of California

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For the health and safety of our staff, many volunteers and the visiting public, we have made the difficult decision to cancel Christmas in Coloma scheduled for this coming weekend. The forecasted rain, wind and cold temperatures will limit outdoor activities and vendor participation and may adversely affect the historic building tour.

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Interested to watch more videos about Marshall Gold Discovery SHP? Check out our YouTube page!

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Interested to watch more videos about Marshall Gold Discovery SHP? Check out our YouTube page!

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Back

Marshall Gold Discovery SHP - YouTube

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At Marshall Gold Discovery SHP we tell the story of the California Gold Rush. Here in Coloma is where James Marshall discovered the piece of gold that started the Gold Rush. We post educational videos about the stories awe tell here at the park about California history and the different types of people that made California what it is today.

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Do you want to become a Junior Ranger? Fill out this booklet within our park to get sworn in and officially become a Junior Ranger!

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Do you want to become a Junior Ranger? Fill out this booklet within our park to get sworn in and officially become a Junior Ranger!

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PORTS Program Student Notes How the Discovery of Gold Changed the Cultural Face of California

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Word Search

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Learn more about the California State Park Adventure Pass at the link below.

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Enjoy 54 California State Parks for FREE using the California State Park Adventure Pass during your whole fourth grade year! 

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Enjoy 54 California State Parks for FREE using the California State Park Adventure Pass during your whole fourth grade year! 

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https://www.parks.ca.gov/adventurepass

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California State Parks is providing free vehicle day-use entry to over 200 participating state parks with the California State Library Parks Pass.

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California State Parks is providing free vehicle day-use entry to over 200 participating state parks with the California State Library Parks Pass.

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https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=30806

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Want to visit other California State Parks via PORTS? Here's the link to the PORTS YouTube Page for your class to Explore California State Parks through PORTS.

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Want to visit other California State Parks via PORTS? Here's the link to the PORTS YouTube Page for your class to Explore California State Parks through PORTS.

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Parks Online Resources for Teachers and Students (PORTS)® Distance Learning Program, is a FREE distance learning program that uses the power of interactive videoconferencing to assist K-12 educators teach Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards in the context of California State Parks. Usi…