Mormon Island
Posted by: 
heringermr
N 38° 41.950 W 121° 07.650
10S E 662833 N 4285057
California Historical Landmark #569
Waymark Code: WM71A0
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 08/17/2009
Views: 24
Early in March 1848, W. Sidney, S. Willis, and Wilford Hudson, members of the Mormon Battalion, set out from Sutter's Fort to hunt deer. Stopping on the south fork of the American River, they found gold. They told their story on returning to the fort, and soon about 150 Mormons and other miners flocked to the site, which was named Mormon Island. This was the first major gold strike in California after James W. Marshall's discovery at Coloma. The population of the town in 1853 was more than 2,500. It had four hotels, three dry-goods stores, five general merchandise stores, an express office, and many small shops. The first ball in Sacramento County was held here on December 25, 1849. A fire destroyed the town in 1856, and it was never rebuilt. Its site was inundated by Folsom Lake in 1955.
Marker Number: 569.00
Marker Name: MORMON ISLAND
County: El Dorado
Has Official CA Plaque: no
Marker Dedication Date: 04/01/1957
Location:
Folsom Lake State Recreation Area, N side, Folsom Point picnic area, near the Mormon Island Dam, 3 mi NE of Folsom
Website: [Web Link]
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Visit Instructions:
Feel free to post a picture of you at the landmark site, but a photo is not required to log a visit.