I Found Gold! (2 of 4)

To find gold, we headed to James Marshall Discovery Park.

In front of the replica of the sawmill that James Marshall bulit

On January 24, 1848, James Marshall was building a sawmill for Captain John Sutter using water from the South Fork of the American River. He noticed several flakes of metal in the water and realized that they were GOLD!

A Chinese grocery/herbal store

Some 80,000 immigrants poured into this state during 1849, many whom were from China.

A Mountain Man Talk by Clancy the Mountain Man

We had our own opportunity to "pan" for gold.

Hannah with her teacher, Mrs. Hinton, panning for gold

It was an interesting experience panning for gold. It was definitely not easy. It took a lot of patience and a good eye. The gold flakes were tiny and bright yellow while the 'fool's gold' was more silver than bright yellow. And there were lots of gems in the soil like amethyst. I was lucky enough to find 5 gold flakes. Everyone found gold expect one very determined parent. That's okay. Her daughter found some and shared with her.

Can you spot the gold flake?

Our next stop was to Sutter's Fort. This fort was a 19th century agricultural and trade colony and the fist non-Native American community in the Central Valley.

Guides are dressed in period garb demonstrate pioneer life at this 1840s living history site.

The main building of the fort is a two story adobe structure which is the only original surviving structure at this reconstructed Sutter' Fort Park. It was here that James Marshall privately met with Sutter in order to show him the gold he found while he was constructing the sawmill.

Fascinating seeing how life was in the mid-1800's.

NEXT UP: Old Town