|
|
Coloma-Lotus News and Information
 On October 13 and 14 COLOMA GOLD RUSH LIVE took place at Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park. This event drew more than 1,000 visitors each day, according to Gold Discovery Park Association Director Deb Jensen. She said the small group of event organizers, who have been planning the event since last spring, were very pleased with the turnout and received overwhelmingly favorable feedback from attendees. Much credit goes also to the more than 125 volunteers, who did jobs ranging from crosswalk safety and hospitality, to interpretive historical reenactment. Thank you to all the people who worked to make this a fun and educational day for the public! Labels: American River, California Gold Rush, Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, Sutter's Mill
 Come to Coloma - come to the Gold Rush! Expanded to three days this year, Coloma will be full of sights, sounds, scents, and hands-on experiences as costumed volunteers living in a tent encampment and working a recreated mining camp show us history. Merchants hawk their wares, musicians play period instruments and sing songs of the early immigrants, and children play games from the 19th century. For these three days, artists make pictures, tools, and clothes, visitors learn how to pan for gold and make candles and rope, and miners tell tales from the goldfields. On Sunday at 11 am "the Rev. Freedom Hawkins," accompanied by Joan Cook on the historic Emmanuel Church organ, calls all visitors to an 1850s church service. All three days, visitors may rub shoulders with adventurers and historical figures, such as James Marshall, who found the nugget that started the California Gold Rush. In the beautiful Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park under graceful trees, “Tent Town” will be the site of much of the action. Near the main museum (where there will be food vendors), volunteers in period dress and tents will cook over open fires and demonstrate trades such as spinning, weaving, basket making and more. Wagon rides will be available for hire. And an extra-special feature is free mail service in Tent Town! Folks can write letters (the old-fashioned way) in a General Delivery tent, and mail will be delivered by horse. Experience some of the many cultures that were here at this important time in history thorugh Mexican and Spanish/Californio tents, the Miwok Village, and the Chinese Store museum. There will be even more fun activity across the street. See a blacksmith at work! John Clagett, Volunteer Coordinator and event organizer, is especially excited about the participation of expert blacksmith and ferrier Eron Simmons. Simmons will be demonstrating period blacksmith techniques at the still-functioning Monroe Blacksmith shop on Main Street. Even better, he will be doing so in the character of Pearley Monroe himself! Pearley was a member of the [http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1139] Monroe-Gooch African American family that worked their way out of slavery to become successful and respected in the area. They eventually owned the land that is now the State Park where all these festivities will occur. See “Pearley” on Saturday only! Also in the park, the historic Thomas and Capini Houses will be open Saturday and Sunday for a special inside look. And for more fun, activity, and history, volunteers all three days will be in the area of Sutter's Mill interpreting the building of the mill, the discovery of gold, and a carpenters’ cabin. Even more - right there along the river will be a re-creation of a 1849 mining camp. See it live!  Coloma Gold Rush Live! is presented by Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park and the Gold Discovery Park Association, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the interpretation and conservation of the Park. Parking and entry fee is only $8 per carload, covering everyone in the car. Times are 10am-4pm Saturday and Sunday, and 10am-3pm on Monday. For more information call 530.295.2162. Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park is located in Coloma on Highway 49 between Placerville and Auburn. Special note: Experienced volunteers are still needed, in the Gold Panning, Hospitality, and Information Booth areas. If you have experience and want to help, please contact John Clagett at (530) 295-2170. For more information; click on http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=484 . All photos courtesy Betty Sederquist, http://www.sederquist.com/Labels: American River, California Gold Rush, Coloma, Gold Discovery Day, Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, Sutter's Mill
 The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors (BOS) is considering a proposal to dismantle the Airports, Parks and Grounds department. This is the group that manages county parks such as Henningsen-Lotus, and whitewater recreation on the South Fork of the American River. We've posted a PDF of the reorganization proposal. If you would like to hear more about the plans and let your Supervisors know how you would like to see recreational facilities and opportunities managed in the County, come to the public meeting tomorrow, October 2, 2007, in the BOS chambers, 330 Fair Lane, Building B, in Placerville. The item is #25 on the BOS agenda. See the BOS website for details. The meeting starts at 9 a.m., which means that this item will probably be discussed sometime between 10 a.m. and noon, but could be as late as 1 or 2 p.m. This may be the public's only opportunity to comment on this subject, but if you cannot attend the meeting, you can email your supervisor. See addresses on the BOS website. Labels: American River, Coloma, Henningsen-Lotus Park
 A two day musical extravaganza took place on the banks of the South Fork American River, Saturday and Sunday, September 22 and 23rd. The main stage was at Henningsen Lotus Park, with camping at American River Resort, Camp Lotus and Earthtrek. Those who attended said the event was very well organized, the music terrific, the artists fabulous, and the location great. Lori Norris, attending the event with her extended family from Sacramento, commented, "We had the most wonderful weekend." About 100 volunteers came together to create the event, even though they were challenged by rainy weather. For details about next year's event, go to http://www.americanrivermusic.org/. Labels: California, Coloma, Gold Country, Music Festival
|
|
On October 13 and 14 COLOMA GOLD RUSH LIVE took place at Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park. This event drew more than 1,000 visitors each day, according to Gold Discovery Park Association Director Deb Jensen. She said the small group of event organizers, who have been planning the event since last spring, were very pleased with the turnout and received overwhelmingly favorable feedback from attendees. Much credit goes also to the more than 125 volunteers, who did jobs ranging from crosswalk safety and hospitality, to interpretive historical reenactment. Thank you to all the people who worked to make this a fun and educational day for the public!
