Coloma, California - Gold Town to Ghost Town

Coloma, California - Page 2

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Miners were always quick to "pick up" their homes and

move to the next big mining strike.

When Coloma became the county seat, a man named Captain Shannon, who had built and operated one of Coloma's first general stores, became the town’s first mayor. A well-liked and respected man, Shannon was also looked to as the "official” to settle disputes and punish any transgressions. With no official law or judicial system, Shannon complied, often sentencing offenders to banishment, whipping, branding, cutting of one or both ears, and in a few cases – hanging.

A man named Jerry Crane was the first to be hanged in Coloma after murdering one of his students because, as he claimed, he "loved" her. He was later found to have a wife and family back east.

The next man hanged was an outlaw by the name of Mickey Free, who was involved in a cutthroat gang that specialized in raiding and robbing Chinese camps and murdering lonely miners.

But, like other gold rich boom camps, Coloma's hectic days were numbered. As the thousands of miners spread out in the area, richer gold veins were soon found at places such as nearby Placerville, Georgetown, Diamond Springs and as many as 30 other gold camps.

As Coloma's population began to fall, nearby Placerville, some ten miles away, had become the new "hub” of the Mother Lode and in 1854, the county seat was moved there, where it remains to this day.

By 1870, Coloma had but just 200 residents and over the years continued to dwindle.

Today, though considered a "ghost town,” the Coloma area is again called home to about 200 people. Approximately 70% of the old town site is part of California's Marshall Gold Discovery State Park that features a number of buildings that have survived from the gold rush, as well as many other reminders of the gold rush period. The park also features a museum, a walking tour of the old town site, costumed volunteers, a replica of the original Sutter’s Mill, and the old cemetery.

Coloma is approximately ten miles northwest of Placerville, on Highway 49.

Contact Information:

Marshall Gold Discovery State Park

310 Back Street
Coloma, California 95613

530-622-3470

Coloma Gold Trail Grange, July, 2009, Kathy Weiser.

This image available for photographic prints and downloads HERE!

Also See:

The California Gold Rush

James Marshall - Discovering Gold

Placerville - Hub of the Mother Lode

John A. Sutter - Boom & Bust in California

Sutter's Own Story

Sutter’s Fort

Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California, July, 2009, Kathy Weiser.

This image available for photographic prints and downloads HERE!

Coloma Post Office today, July, 2009, Kathy Weiser.

This image available for photographic prints and downloads HERE!

Book your lodging right HERE online

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