Gold was first documented in California at Placerita Canyon (near present- day Newhall in Southern California) on March 9, 1842, by Francisco López at a spot now remembered as the “Oak of the Golden Dream.”

However, most people learn that gold was “first discovered” at Sutter’s Mill on the American River near Coloma in Northern California, where James W. Marshall found gold on January 24, 1848, sparking the famous California Gold Rush.

So, in short:

  • Earliest documented discovery in California: Placerita Canyon, near Newhall, March 9, 1842 (Francisco López).
  • Discovery that started the Gold Rush: Sutter’s Mill, Coloma, on the American River, January 24, 1848 (James W. Marshall).

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.