Coloma, California
Sutter's Mill Reconstruction
Sign at site reads:
James Marshall's discovery of gold at John Sutter's sawmill on January 24, 1848, caused international "gold fever". Californians caught the infection first, followed by the Mexicans, Hawaiians, and South Americans. As the news spread, people from all parts of the United States and the world hurried to California.
Sutter's sawmill closed in 1850, a victim of inefficiency and local competition. By 1856 the mill had been torn down to reuse the lumber. The river covered what remained of the foundation with dirt and sand. But in 1924 some interested residents of Coloma discovered the structures foundation timbers and an original saw blade in the river bed, rekindling interest in the historic landmark.
The State of California acquired the mill site in 1942 and archeologists excavated the timbers in 1947. The replica mill, built on higher ground in 1967, is an exact reconstruction based on Marshall's own drawings.
Year: 2006
Credit: Personal Collection
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