Folsom in Sacramento County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Mormon Island
Erected 1957 by Sacramento County Daughters of Utah Pioneers, in cooperation with California State Park Commission. (Marker Number 569.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Natural Resources • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks, and the Daughters of Utah Pioneers series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is December 1889.
Location. 38° 41.957′ N, 121° 7.654′ W. Marker is in Folsom, California, in Sacramento County. Marker can be reached from Folsom Point Road, half a mile north of Natoma Street. Marker is located at the parking lot of the Folsom Point picnic area, Folsom Lake State Recreation Area, off of East Natoma Steet. This is a fee-use area. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Folsom CA 95630, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Folsom Dam Improvements (approx. ¼ mile away); Johnny Cash Trail (approx. 0.9 miles away); Mormon Island Relocation Cemetery (approx. one mile away); Prairie City Cemetery (approx. one mile away); Mormon Island, Negro Hill, Salmon Falls, and Condemned Bar (approx. one mile away); Railroad Gate (approx. 1.9 miles away); Prison Doodlebug (approx. 1.9 miles away); Fire Extinguisher (approx. 1.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Folsom.
Regarding Mormon Island. This site was designated California Historical Landmark No. 569 on April 1, 1957.
Additional commentary.
1. The Town Site
The site of Mormon Island was located in El Dorado County just northeast of the marker site, while the marker is located in Sacramento County. The border of the two counties is located just east of the Folsom Point Picnic Area.
— Submitted April 4, 2009.
2. Interpretive sign at “Clarksville Days” held at the old town site of Clarksville
May 9, 2009
Originally located on the South Fork of the American River, just east of present day city of Folsom. Not truly an island, but a sand bar, where two of [John] Sutter’s workmen, Sidney Willes and Wilford Hudson first discovered gold, on March 2nd, 1848 – just 37 days after James Marshall’s discovery in Coloma. Willes and Hudson were fellow Mormon Battalion veterans with Marshall’s millworkers, who passed on the gold discovery “secret”. The original Mormon Battalion boys and other Mormon immigrants, who came to California by ship, the Brooklyn first worked it, and would mark off areas – each working his assigned space. The gold found each day was tossed into a container, with tools left overnight. They were among trusted friends. By the time other gold seekers arrived, the gold fields were not safe, nor friendly, with thievery, treachery, and murder being the order of the day. By June 1848 there where 300 people.
By the end of 1848 most of the Mormons left California, to return with their families and “gather with the Saints.” In the Oct. 29, 1850 census few Mormons remained. The town grew to thousands until the end of the Gold Rush. It remained a town until the 1950’s, when it was inundated by Folsom Lake.
See Photo #4
— Submitted May 9, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.
Additional keywords. Gold Rush
Credits. This page was last revised on February 5, 2024. It was originally submitted on April 4, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. This page has been viewed 4,487 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 4, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 4. submitted on May 9, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 5. submitted on April 4, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 6. submitted on February 20, 2012, by S B of Sacramento, California.