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

Mormon Workers Cabin

Photographed by Joseph Alvarado

1. Mormon Workers Cabin Marker

Inscription. In 1946, President James K. Polk authorized the Army to enlist Mormons to fight in the Mexican War. 496 men joined the Mormon Battalion in Council Bluffs, Iowa on July 16, 1846. They marched over 2,000 miles, building a wagon road from Santa Fe to the West Coast. After discharge from the Army, a group of Battalion came north by land to Sutter’s Fort. Sutter wanted a mill to be built in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, but had problems finding skilled labor. With the arrival of the Mormon Battalion, his problem was solved. He contracted with 106 battalion members to built mills as well as work in the fort. Sutter sent 6 men from the Mormon Battalion into the foothills to an area known as Coloma to commence work on the mill on September 29, 1847. They built a cabin like this, completing it on January 23, 1848. Because of two of the battalion men’s journals, we know the actual date that gold was discovered – January 24, 1848. Today the cabin is maintained and staffed by Mormon volunteers.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers • War, Mexican-American. A significant historical date for this entry is July 16, 1846.

Location. 38° 48.096′ N, 120° 53.543′ W. Marker is in Coloma, California, in El Dorado County

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. It can be reached from Coloma Road (California Route 49) north of Mt Murphy Road. The paper marker is mounted inside a frame in front of the cabin, 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 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: Chinese Miners of the Mother Lode (within shouting distance of this marker); Chinese Stores (within shouting distance of this marker); James W. Marshall (within shouting distance of this marker); Sutter Mill Timbers (within shouting distance of this marker); Nelson Bell (within shouting distance of this marker); California Stamp Mill (within shouting distance of this marker); Site of Wintermantel's Miner's Hotel (within shouting distance of this marker); The Coloma Road (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Coloma.

Other markers no longer nearby. Mormon Cabin (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Sutter Mill Replica (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named Chinese Stores (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. A previous marker on the same subject.

Photographed by Joseph Alvarado, January 21, 2023

2. Mormon Workers Cabin & Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 3, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 3, 2023, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California. This page has been viewed 457 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 3, 2023, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California.