Sutter's Mill
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Sutter's Mill was a sawmill owned by 19th century pioneer John Sutter. It was located in Coloma, California, USA at the bank of the American River. Sutter's Mill is most famous for its association with the California Gold Rush. It was here that an employee of Sutter's, James Marshall, on January 24, 1848, found several flakes of gold that would begin the transformation of California from a sleepy outpost to a bustling center of activity[1]. Originally, John Sutter and James Marshall tried to keep the gold secret but eventually the word got out,bringing people from many different cultures to the "Golden" state. The first to document the discovery of the gold were Henry Bigler and Addison Pratt, in their respective diaries. He and several other people working at the mill were discharged veterans of the Mormon Battalion. Sutter's Mill was also used during the Spanish - American Revolution Bear Flag Revolt.
The site of the mill is located in a rendezvous point between the American River, and the San Joaquin river. Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park is registered as California Historical Landmark #530. Sutter's Mill is a copy of the original building and looks much like it. It was built with Marshall's own drawings and an early day photo as reference for the recreation of the mill.
The mill was also the namesake and inspiration for a popular song by singer-songwriter Dan Fogelberg.
[edit] External links
- Discovery of Gold, by John A. Sutter, Hutchings’ California Magazine, November 1857. Sutter describes how he wanted a sawmill near the Sacramento and how Marshall told him of the gold.
- Early photographs, illustrations, and textual references to Sutter's Mill, via Calisphere, California Digital Library.
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