Coloma is one of the most important historical sites in American history as the place where gold was discovered in California, bringing the world to the American River and changing the history of America on the world stage in the process.
The project to reroute Highway 49 to increase traffic flow—which would have the added benefit of allowing the Marshall Gold Discovery site to more fully establish itself—as reported in the Sacramento Bee, is an excellent one, thought the local residents concerns concerning development have to be addressed.
I first heard about the idea to reroute the highway around Coloma from State Parks Ranger Sugarman several years ago while visiting with him to possibly consult with a foundation he was involved with to help fund the work, and he related a story which has always put the discovery of gold into the context I think it fully deserves.
He was guiding a group of Japanese tourists around the park, and while talking to them, a small group broke off and went to the specific site, on the American River South Fork, where gold was first taken out by James Marshall. They stood there for awhile, quietly talking among themselves, and then, while standing there, bowed very formally towards the river. Later, he asked them why they were bowing, and they told him that they were honoring, “the place where America found her power.”
The wealth from the California Gold Rush played a very large role in growing America from a regional entity to a world power, and it is a history that needs preserving.
An excerpt.
“A new route for Highway 49 in El Dorado County might improve safety and traffic flow, but some residents fear it also would increase pressure to develop rural lands.
“Built to link California's Gold Rush towns, Highway 49 between Coloma and Placerville follows an old wagon road alignment. It also winds through Placerville's narrow residential streets and bisects Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park in Coloma.
“Although it provides a scenic route for leisurely travel, transportation officials say the highway is not adequate to handle increasing traffic loads. A study was recently launched to identify alternative alignments for an approximately 13-mile stretch between Coloma and the town of El Dorado.”
