Coloma - California Ghost Town

COLOMA

NAME: Coloma
COUNTY: El Dorado
ROADS: 2WD
GRID #(see map): 2
CLIMATE: Mild winter, warm summer
BEST TIME TO VISIT: Anytime

COMMENTS: On highway 49, a must see, Semi-ghost.
REMAINS: Many old and original historic sites and buildings.

Here is where the great California gold rush had its beginning. Just north of Placerville, Coloma was the home of Johan Sutter whose name will be forever linked to the gold rush days. Sutter came to California from his native Switzerland in 1834 and was granted some land on the Sacramento River. It was toward the end of 1847 that Sutter began construction of his sawmill at a site the Indians called Cullooma. Sutter had a partner named James Marshall in building the sawmill. It was Marshall, not Sutter, who first discovered gold at Sutter's Mill. Ironically, neither Sutter or Marshall profited from a discovery which should have made them independently wealthy. Among the things to see while visiting Coloma is the home of James Marshall at the time of his discovery in 1849 as well a his grave which overlooks the site of his discovery. Ghosttowns.com Settled along the banks of the South Fork between Sutter's Mill and Mormon Island is the first important mining town of the 1848 gold rush days. By the summer of 1848 Coloma had about 300 frame buildings and a big hotel under construction. Because of the remoteness of the location, prices were outrageous. Almost any commodity sold at the flat rate of a dollar a pound. Shovels and picks were at least $50 each. Wool shirts sold for $50 each. Since the dollar was worth at least 100 times more than it is today, such prices were outlandish. But Coloma's hectic days were numbered. Richer localities up and down the Mother Lode were drawing away her residents. By 1870 Coloma was reduced to 200 residents. Where gold was discovered is now a state park with appropriate historical markers and an extensive museum. Some of the original frame buildings still stand and have been preserved as historical markers of the first town to emerge from the gold rush days of 1848. Submitted by Henry Chenoweth. Jail Courtesy Dolores Steele Wah Hop Store Courtesy Dolores Steele James Marshall cabin - 1860 Courtesy Dolores Steele Sutter Mill Cemetery Courtesy Dolores Steele Sutter Cemetery grave - 1850 Courtesy Dolores Steele Back in the trees - little Saint John Catholic Church - 1856 Courtesy Dolores Steele Coloma Cemetery Courtesy Dolores Steele Coloma Courtesy Bob Stelow Coloma Courtesy Bob Stelow Coloma Courtesy Bob Stelow Coloma Courtesy Bob Stelow Coloma Courtesy Bob Stelow	On a hill overlooking Coloma stands the James Marshall Mounument where the discoverer of gold lies buried. His statue points to the gold discovery site on the river below. After Marshall died at Kelsey in 1885, miners brought him over Mt. Murphy, packed in ice, for a funeral wake in Coloma, then buried him close to his former cabin. Courtesy Dolores Steele This house was built by Perly Monroe in 1925. Perly was a Grandson of Peter and Nancy Gooch, who were freed from slavery here when California became a state in 1850. Nancy worked as a cook & seamstress during the Gold Rush, and sent her earnings to Missouri to buy the freedom of her own son, Andrew Monroe. The Monroe family became sucessful fruit farmers and prominent property holders in Coloma. This house is tangible evidence of their success. Courtesy Dolores Steele Thomas House Courtesy Dolores Steele Coloma Courtesy Dolores Steele Bekeart's Store -- oldest building in Coloma Courtesy Dolores Steele Saddle & Harness Courtesy Dolores Steele Blacksmith Shop Courtesy Dolores Steele School Courtesy Dolores Steele Coloma Courtesy Bob Stelow Coloma Courtesy Bob Stelow

Here is where the great California gold rush had its beginning. Just north of Placerville, Coloma was the home of Johan Sutter whose name will be forever linked to the gold rush days. Sutter came to California from his native Switzerland in 1834 and was granted some land on the Sacramento River. It was toward the end of 1847 that Sutter began construction of his sawmill at a site the Indians called Cullooma. Sutter had a partner named James Marshall in building the sawmill. It was Marshall, not Sutter, who first discovered gold at Sutter's Mill. Ironically, neither Sutter or Marshall profited from a discovery which should have made them independently wealthy. Among the things to see while visiting Coloma is the home of James Marshall at the time of his discovery in 1849 as well a his grave which overlooks the site of his discovery. Ghosttowns.com

Settled along the banks of the South Fork between Sutter's Mill and Mormon Island is the first important mining town of the 1848 gold rush days. By the summer of 1848 Coloma had about 300 frame buildings and a big hotel under construction. Because of the remoteness of the location, prices were outrageous. Almost any commodity sold at the flat rate of a dollar a pound. Shovels and picks were at least $50 each. Wool shirts sold for $50 each. Since the dollar was worth at least 100 times more than it is today, such prices were outlandish. But Coloma's hectic days were numbered. Richer localities up and down the Mother Lode were drawing away her residents. By 1870 Coloma was reduced to 200 residents. Where gold was discovered is now a state park with appropriate historical markers and an extensive museum. Some of the original frame buildings still stand and have been preserved as historical markers of the first town to emerge from the gold rush days of 1848. Submitted by Henry Chenoweth.

Jail
Courtesy Dolores Steele

Wah Hop Store
Courtesy Dolores Steele

James Marshall cabin - 1860
Courtesy Dolores Steele

Sutter Mill Cemetery
Courtesy Dolores Steele

Sutter Cemetery grave - 1850
Courtesy Dolores Steele

Back in the trees - little Saint John Catholic Church - 1856
Courtesy Dolores Steele

Coloma Cemetery
Courtesy Dolores Steele

Coloma
Courtesy Bob Stelow

On a hill overlooking Coloma stands the James Marshall Mounument where
the discoverer of gold lies buried. His statue points to the gold discovery
site on the river below. After Marshall died at Kelsey in 1885, miners
brought him over Mt. Murphy, packed in ice, for a funeral wake in Coloma, then
buried him close to his former cabin.
Courtesy Dolores Steele

This house was built by Perly Monroe in 1925. Perly was a Grandson of
Peter and Nancy Gooch, who were freed from slavery here when California became a state in 1850. Nancy worked as a cook & seamstress during the Gold Rush, and sent her earnings to Missouri to buy the freedom of her own son, Andrew Monroe. The Monroe family became sucessful fruit farmers and prominent property holders in Coloma. This house is tangible evidence of their success.
Courtesy Dolores Steele

Thomas House
Courtesy Dolores Steele

Coloma
Courtesy Dolores Steele

Bekeart's Store -- oldest building in Coloma
Courtesy Dolores Steele

Saddle & Harness
Courtesy Dolores Steele

Blacksmith Shop
Courtesy Dolores Steele

School
Courtesy Dolores Steele

Coloma
Courtesy Bob Stelow

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