Sutter’s Mill Site historic marker 530

 historical marker, historic site

"NO. 530 GOLD DISCOVERY SITE - This monument marks the site of John A. Sutter's sawmill. In its tail-race, on January 24, 1848, James W. Marshall discovered gold and started great rush of Argonauts to California. The Society of California Pioneers definitely located and marked the site in 1924 - additional timbers and relics, including the original tailrace unearthed in 1947, were discovered after the property became a state park. The State erected the Marshall Monument overlooking this spot in 1890 through efforts begun in 1886 by the Native Sons of the Golden West."

This is the spot where gold was discovered in California.

Downstream from the replica, this is where the original mill stood, the place where James W. Marshall discovered gold which started the Gold Rush which led to California statehood. California is what it is today because of what happened on this spot.