Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park Celebrates the 250th Anniversary of the United States at Coloma Gold Rush Live!
Contact:
Holly Thane
Gold Fields District
(530) 622-3069
Photos from Coloma Gold Rush Live! in previous years at Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park. Photos from California State Parks.
COLOMA — Celebrate 250 years of the United States by stepping back in time during Coloma Gold Rush Live! at Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park (SHP). The public is invited to experience California’s rich Gold Rush history from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 9-10, and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11. During this three-day event, park staff and volunteers transform the park into a Gold Rush tent town where visitors can experience what life may have been like in 1850.
Visitors can step back in time and experience Gold Rush-era life through:
- Celebration parade, speeches and cannon firing
- Live demonstrations and hands-on activities
- Puppet show and children’s activities
- Try hands-on activities like gold panning, tin punching, coopering and historic games
- Enjoy food from the Gold Rush BBQ
- Explore historic businesses, including:
- Bath house, tonsorial and laundress
- General stores and post office
- Carpenter shop and blacksmith
- Claims office and assayer
- Hotels and saloon
Admission to the event is $20 per vehicle. Please note: This is a dog-free event except for service dogs. California State Parks welcomes all visitors. For more information about the event or if members of your group have accessibility needs, please contact the park at (530) 622-3470 in advance to arrange accommodations.
Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park is located in Coloma, on Highway 49, between Placerville and Auburn, only one hour from Sacramento.
Coloma Gold Rush Live! is made possible thanks to our partnership with the Gold Discovery Park Association. Proceeds from the event will help fund future educational programs at the park.
History of Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park
In 1848, James W. Marshall found shining flecks of gold in the tailrace of the sawmill he was building in partnership with John Sutter. The discovery in present-day Coloma sparked California’s famous Gold Rush. The consequent influx of people from all over the world propelled California into statehood within two years of the discovery and of the United States taking possession of the area that became California.
The town of Coloma's name is derived from a Native American word, Cullumah, meaning “beautiful valley.” California Native Americans were the majority labor force initially involved in gold mining. Some of the first people traveling from abroad to reach the gold fields around Coloma were experienced miners from Sonora, Mexico, and South America. Those traveling from even farther to reach the gold fields included people from Australia, Asia and across Europe. Coloma developed into a supply hub for the region's gold mining operations for several decades and managed to survive the boom and bust of most other townsites.
Generations of settlers, including German, Swiss, Italian, Chinese and African American families, made long-lasting contributions to the town's continued prosperity with their businesses and agricultural enterprises. All these efforts helped keep Coloma alive long after miners had moved on to other opportunities.
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California State Parks provides for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high quality outdoor recreation.