Student groups planning a “True West” California adventure will hit a mother lode of exciting mining attractions in the sunny State Capitol of Sacramento, including Marshall Gold Discovery SHP & Sutter’s Mill – a wonderful replica of Sutter’s original sawmill and more than 20 historic buildings in an authentic ghost town situated rightwhere the Gold Rush started! As American History buffs will know, James W. Marshall discovered gold on the South Fork of the American River while building a sawmill with John Sutter in 1848 – the event that triggered the greatest mass movement of people in the Western Hemisphere and the very spark that ignited the phenomenal growth of the West over the next few decades. Lessons are tendered eager visitors who may then try their hand panning for real gold in the scenic American River; nature enthusiasts with energy to burn will enjoy setting out on a rejuvenating woodland hike and unpacking a picnic lunch overlooking the picturesque river canyon, where James W. Marshall rests, today. The discovery site, located in the still visible tailrace of Sutter’s sawmill in present day Coloma is one of the most significant historic sites in the Nation; you’ll see the landmark monument to Marshall’s thrilling discovery that points to where it all began. Marshall Gold Discovery SHP hosts an array of special events throughout the year and during Living History Days young pioneers are treated to an entertaining and educational history lesson as the park comes alive with docents dressed in period attire roaming about or manning demonstration stations showcasing essential pioneering and woodsman skills. Guided walking tours of the 576-acre State Historic Park, located 36 miles east of Sacramento on Highway 49 between Placerville and Auburn, are available year-round; thar’s gold in them thar hills; go on, git yerself some!
