Winters’ Hotel

Site of

Photographed by Syd Whittle, March 17, 2009

1. Winters’ Hotel Marker

Inscription. The Winters’ Hotel was the most ornate building in town. It was one of the earliest hotels here and the best known. A forty-niner later described it as “the hotel par excellence of the town; one could easily perceive that by its long white colonnade in front, and its too numerous windows in the upper story. A large saloon occupied the whole front of the building.” In 1850 the Winters’ was known as a gambling hotel, and later it became the stagecoach stop for the community.

Erected by Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Buildings • Notable Places • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1850.

Location. Marker has been permanently removed. It was located near 38° 48.005′ N, 120° 53.449′ W. Marker was in Coloma, California, in El Dorado County. It was on Highway 49 (Main Street), on the left when traveling north. Marker is located within the boundaries of the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Coloma CA 95613, United States of America.

We have been informed that this marker is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.

Regionally, this marker was in California’s Sacramento Metro,

in the Sierra Nevada,

and in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

It was also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it was in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Beer Garden (a few steps from this marker); What Happened To All The Buildings? (a few steps from this marker); Schulze House (a few steps from this marker); Metropolitan Saloon and Bowling Alley (a few steps from this marker); Site of Wright's Store (within shouting distance of this marker); Site of Coloma’s Law Offices (within shouting distance of this marker); G.J. Hazeltine's Daguerrean Gallery (within shouting distance of this marker); Site of Adams and Company Express (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Coloma.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Site of Wintermantel’s Miner’s Hotel (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed).

More about this marker. The marker has been removed. There is no replacement marker to be found.

Regarding Winters’ Hotel. The Winter’s Hotel is reported to have been torn down about 1861-1862, and another hotel built in its place.

Additional commentary.
1. Coloma and the Winter's Hotel
During the early days of the Gold Rush, the new arrivals generally headed for Coloma, which resulted in the town’s rapid growth. Among the first

Winters’ Hotel Site and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, March 17, 2009

2. Winters’ Hotel Site and Marker

businesses in town were Captain Shannon & Cady’s general store, S. S. Brook’s store, and John Little’s emporium which was located on the north side of the river. Saloons, gambling houses, restaurants, banks, stables, smithy, and gunsmith all soon followed. The first hotel was the Winters Hotel, operated by Messrs. Winters and Cromwell. A. J. Bayley ran the hotel’s bar. A post office was in operation by 1849, with John T. Little serving as the first postmaster. Early spellings such as “Colluma” and “Culoma” eventually gave way to “Coloma,” and when El Dorado County was created in 1850, Coloma was chosen as the county seat, over strong objections from the residents of nearby Placerville and Diamond Springs who thought their towns should have that honor.

The Winter’s Hotel is reported to have been torn down about 1861-1862, and another hotel built in its place.

— Submitted March 20, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.

Additional keywords. Gold Rush

Credits. This page was last revised on January 23, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 20, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,645 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 20, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.