Coloma
Census-designated place in California. Added to the National Register in 1966, and a National Historic Landmark.
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What it is
Coloma is a census-designated place (CDP) in El Dorado County, California, United States. It is approximately 36 miles (58 km) northeast of Sacramento. Coloma is most noted for being the site where James W. Marshall found gold in the Sierra Nevada foothills, at Sutter's Mill on January 24, 1848, leading to the California gold rush. As of the 2020 census, Coloma had a population of 521.
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The record
| Property type | Historic district |
| Address | 7 mi. NW of Placerville on CA 49, Placerville vicinity, CA |
| County | El Dorado County |
| Listed | Oct 15, 1966 |
| Listed for | Industry, Exploration and settlement |
| Level of significance | National |
| Also known as | Coloma (Gold Discovery Site) |
| Reference number | 66000207 |
| Type of place | census-designated place in the United States, historic district |
| Designations | National Historic Landmark |
| Contributing resources | 16 buildings, 2 sites, 2 objects |
| Standing | Yes |
The nomination form, the document that argues why this place matters, is in the National Archives: Read the nomination ↗
Visiting
| Address | 7 mi. NW of Placerville on CA 49, Placerville, CA |
| Coordinates | 38.8006° N, 120.8917° W · Directions ↗ |
| Nearest national park unit | Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial · 80 miles · on Park Atlas |
| Federal campgrounds nearby | Dru Barner Campground 12 miles · Dru Barner Campground 12 miles · Ponderosa Cove Campground 16 miles |
Explore
Drawings & photographs
Measured drawings and photographs from the Library of Congress. Public domain. All 1 record ↗
Map
Nearby in El Dorado County
Guidebooks to historic places in California
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
When was Coloma listed on the National Register?
Oct 15, 1966. It is also a National Historic Landmark, the higher of the two designations.
Source: National Park Service
Where is Coloma?
7 mi. NW of Placerville on CA 49, Placerville vicinity, El Dorado County, California. The nearest national park unit is Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial, 80 miles away.
What does the Coloma listing include?
The listing counts 20 contributing resources. Those are 16 buildings, 2 sites, and 2 objects. A contributing resource is a part of the listed property that carries its historic significance.
Source: National Park Service
Are there historic photographs or drawings of Coloma?
Yes. The Historic American Buildings Survey at the Library of Congress has drawings or photographs of it.
Source: Library of Congress
Where is the nomination form for Coloma?
The National Archives holds the nomination form, the document that made the case for listing.
Source: National Archives
Are there campgrounds near Coloma?
Three federal campgrounds are within reach. The closest is Dru Barner Campground, 12 miles away. Dru Barner Campground is 12 miles away, and Ponderosa Cove Campground is 16 miles away.
Source: Campsite Atlas
Is there cell service at Coloma?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the listed point. Coverage indoors and behind old masonry is another matter.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
Sources
Location, type and contributing counts come from the National Park Service's National Register spatial data. Listing dates come from the National Register office's spreadsheet where it carries the listing. Construction date, architect, style, photograph and encyclopedia link come from Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons, matched on reference number 66000207. Nothing here is transcribed by hand. The nomination form and photographs ↗ at NPGallery are the original nomination as filed with the National Park Service, and the form is often the best description of the place. The description under "What it is" is the opening of the Wikipedia article, CC BY-SA. Drawings and photographs are Historic American Buildings Survey records at the Library of Congress, public domain.