California's heritage and its growth were greatly influenced by the Gold Rush, which occurred when word leaked out about James Marshall's gold discovery in the American River at Coloma on Jan. 24, 1848. Highway 49 retraces the route of the Gold Rush, and many of the cities and towns along this windy road are authentic places where gold was found. Some gold mines still exist for tourists to visit and there are many events and re-enactments that honor this important era that brought immigrants to California from around the world. When you visit, the locals have many stories to tell about their treasured past.

• California Gold
• California Gold Rush Christmas Was Difficult Time to Cope

CITIES & TOWNS

Ahwahnee Alta Alleghany Amador City Angels Camp Applegate Apple Hill Arnold Auburn Big Oak Flat Bowman Calpine Cameron Park Camino Carmichael Catheys Valley Chinese Camp Citrus Heights Coarsegold Colfax Coloma Columbia Cool Copperopolis Coulterville Diamond Springs Downieville Drytown El Dorado El Dorado Hills Elk Grove Emigrant Gap Fair Oaks Florin Folsom Foresthill Grass Valley Groveland Georgetown Granite Bay Hornitos Ione Jackson Jamestown La Grange Lincoln Loomis

Loyalton Meadow Vista Mi-Wuk Village Mokelumne Hill Mountain Ranch Murphys Nevada City Newcastle North Fork North Highlands North Sacramento Orangevale O'Neals Penn Valley Penryn Pine Grove Pioneer Placerville Plymouth Pollock Pines Rancho Cordova Raymond Roseville Rio Linda Rocklin Rough and Ready Rancho Cordova Rocklin Roseville Sacramento San Andreas Sattley Shingle Springs Sierra City Sierraville Somerset Sonora Sutter Creek Tuolumne Twain Harte Vallecito Valley Springs Volcano Weimar West Point West Sacramento Wheatland Yosemite Village

AIRPORTS

Sacramento International Airport

PARKS & FORESTS

Railtown 1897 State Historic Park
Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park
Columbia State Historic Park
Moaning Cavern
Mercer Caverns California Cavern State Historic Landmark
Daffodil Hill
Black Chasm Cavern National Natural Landmark
Sutter Gold Mine
Lake Natoma State Recreation Area
Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park
Folsom Lake State Recreation Area
Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park
Empire Mine State Historic Park
South Yuba River State Park
Auburn State Recreation Area
Tahoe National Forest
Toiyabe National Forest