This site marks the location of James Wilson Marshall's discovery of gold on January 24, 1848, the discovery which precipitated the California Gold Rush.

It consists of the mill site, the grave of Marshall, the town of Coloma.

This area, because of its outstanding significance to California and the world at large, has been named a national historic landmark, and is so registered by the National Park Service.

Source: Extracted from the National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form dated 30 February 1970.