Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park

This visitor center sits in the heart of the Sierra Nevadas, at the site where the California Gold Rush started. The exhibits, created in collaboration with California State Parks, explore the impact of that discovery–on the people, the natural environment, and the state itself.

A series of semi-chronological displays wind through the exhibition gallery. The displays use many artifacts from the State Park collections as well as first-hand accounts and personal stories to put a human face to the story of gold discovery. Visitors can explore several multimedia interactives as well as use a hands-on placer mining interactive.

Designer and fabricator: Split Rock Studios

Owner: California State Parks

The discovery of gold at Sutter's Creek brought the world's attention to California. Large headlines from period papers usher visitors into the exhibition.

A stagecoach and artifacts anchor this display about transportation to California. Visitors can explore an interactive map to see how waves of gold seekers converged from across the world.

An artifact case displays a range of objects from gold seekers.

Visitors can use a fun interactive that simulates panning for gold. A screen set into the wooden cradle shows whether visitors struck it rich!

An exhibit explores the legacy of the gold rush on California.

Through text, artifacts, and computer interactives visitors can explore how Coloma, California, changed with the gold rush.