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The Coloma Series

John Sutter left Switzerland to make his fortune in America. In 1839, Sutter acquired eleven square leagues of land from California’s Governor Juan Bautista Alvarado and was on his way to building an empire. His many successful ventures required the voracious use of timber. Sutter entered into partnership with James W. Marshall to build a sawmill on the South Fork of the American River near Coloma. During the construction of the mill in January of 1848, Marshall discovered gold on the site.

Sutter’s Sawmill

El Dorado County Prison

Coloma Schoolhouse

Miner’s Cabin & Grange Hall

Coloma -Sutter's Sawmil
Coloma - El Dorade County prison
Coloma Schoolhouse
Coloma - Miner’s Cabin & Grange Hall

The Placerville Series

Nestled in the foothills between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe, Placerville has a colorful history beginning in July of 1848 when gold was discovered there. The town was first known as Dry Diggings, but was later nicknamed of Old Hangtown because three robbers were hanged here on October 17, 1849. The placer mines are estimated to have yielded at least $25 million.

By 1854, Hangtown was the third largest town in California. Today its Main Street hosts the Wagon Train Parade, Dixieland Jazz Festival and Art and Wine Festival among its many annual events.

Historical Society

Boeger Winery

Main Street

Hillside Vista

Chichester-McKee House

Coloma - Boeger Winery
Placerville - Main Street
Placerville - Hillside vista
Placerville - Chichester-McKee House

Soda Works

Belltower

Veterans’ Building

Placerville - Veterans building
Placerville - Soda works
Placerville - Belltower
Placerville - Historical Society

Perhaps this collection should be called more explicitly “the Gold Country” series because these drawings are the treasure that artist Bette Jones brought back from her trip to re-discover the country that gave us the California Gold Rush.

The Mother Lode is a hundred mile long stretch of gold-bearing quartz which runs roughly north-south along part of the western slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California right through El Dorado County. There you will find Coloma and Placerville, two towns that played starring roles in one of the most exciting dramas of American history known today as the California Gold Rush.

Sutter's Sawmill Coloma -Sutter's Sawmil Sutter's Sawmill
El Dorado County prison Coloma - El Dorade County prison El Dorado County prison
Coloma Schoolhouse Coloma Schoolhouse Coloma Schoolhouse
Coloma - Miner’s Cabin & Grange Hall Coloma - Miner’s Cabin & Grange Hall Coloma - Miner’s Cabin & Grange Hall
Placerville - Veteran's building Placerville - Veterans building Placerville - Veteran's building
Placerville - Historical Society Placerville - Historical Society Placerville - Historical Society
Placerville - Soda works Placerville - Soda works Placerville - Soda works
Placerville - Belltower Placerville - Belltower Placerville - Belltower
Placerville - Boeger Winery Coloma - Boeger Winery Placerville - Boeger Winery
Placerville - Main Street Placerville - Main Street Placerville - Main Street
Placerville - Hillsaide Vista Placerville - Hillside vista Placerville - Hillsaide Vista
Placerville - Chichester-McKee House Placerville - Chichester-McKee House Placerville - Chichester-McKee House
California - A love affair in line California - A love affair in line
A love affair in line