Discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill

The discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill in 1848 marked the beginning of the California Gold Rush. When James W. Marshall found shining particles in the American River, it signaled the potential for sudden wealth. News spread quickly, leading thousands of people to travel west in hopes of striking it rich. This event transformed California economically and demographically, accelerating settlement and development in the region. The discovery is considered a pivotal moment in American history, symbolizing opportunity, migration, and the rapid expansion of the frontier during the mid-19th century.