Trees, River, Access

Before construction could begin, James Marshall had to find the right place for a sawmill, and in Coloma he chose a site with the three essentials for operation: abundant trees, a large source of flowing water, and a passable route for building a road. Marshall and John Sutter intended the mill to be temporary, since hauling logs was difficult and mills often used nearby timber only until local supplies ran low, then moved on and built again elsewhere. The chosen site presented one problem: Sutter did not own the land. Sutter and Marshall persuaded the Nisenan to build the sawmill, and through this coerced agreement the Nisenan allowed access to the site so construction could proceed.

Coloma, California · United States