Coloma in El Dorado County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Nelson Bell

Photographed by Joseph Alvarado, January 21, 2023

1. Nelson Bell Marker

Inscription. Born in Virginia around 1790, Nelson Bell was brought to California as an enslaved person in 1850. When he gained his freedom, Nelson purchased the land you see before you in 1856 and lived in a house on this property. On the 1860 census he is listed as working as a laborer. When he passed in 1869, his belongings were sold at probate, and he was buried in Coloma’s Pioneer Cemetery where today you can still visit his grave.

Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park

Erected by California Department of Parks & Recreation.

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

Location. 38° 48.061′ N, 120° 53.533′ W. Marker is in Coloma, California, in El Dorado County. It is on Coloma Road (California Route 49) north of Mt Murphy Road, on the right when traveling south. The resin marker is mounted to a metal stand on the Gold Discovery Loop Trail. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Coloma CA 95613, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s

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Sacramento Metro,

in the Sierra Nevada,

and in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is 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 finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: California Stamp Mill (a few steps from this marker); Arrastre (within shouting distance of this marker); Site of Wintermantel's Miner's Hotel (within shouting distance of this marker); James W. Marshall (within shouting distance of this marker); Hydraulic Mining (within shouting distance of this marker); Chinese Stores (within shouting distance of this marker); Chile Mill (within shouting distance of this marker); Chinese Miners of the Mother Lode (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Coloma.

Photographed by Joseph Alvarado, January 21, 2023

2. Nelson Bell Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on January 29, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 29, 2023, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California. This page has been viewed 414 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 29, 2023, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California.