The California gold rush began only 10 miles north of Placerville in Coloma, CA. Placerville is a town that offers travelers the comforts of modern convenience but also access to some of the areas richest gold bearing creeks and streams. This town is full of history and in 2004 celebrated its 150 year anniversary. The Goldbug Mine is another attraction that Placerville has to offer. The mine is owned by the city and is open to visitors. For more information on activities in and around Placerville contact the Eldorado County Chamber of Commerce at www.eldoradocounty.org.
Coulterville
In 1850 Coulterville was still a Mexican mining town but George Coulter, the town’s name-sake, had other ideas and renamed the town Coulterville. Coulterville started out as a gold rush town but when the rush died out it continued on as a hard rock mining town. There are numerous lode mine sites where mining use to take place along with various rivers and creeks in which to pan.
There is also a ghost town named Garrott to explore, to locate it take J20 (northeast) about 10 miles to CA 120. Go west about 3 miles to Second Garrott and continue west to Groveland, (which was originally called Garrott), and there you will find it. All that remains is one building and a hanging tree where it is said that more than 60 people were hanged. For more information on Coulterville contact the visitor’s center at (209)878-3074.
The Diamond Mine
The area around Murfreesboro, Arkansas, where the Crater of Diamonds State Park is located, is a rich volcanic area. This area was an active volcanic zone over 100 million years ago. Many of the diamonds found here every year are billions of years old and formed by the process of carbon atoms bonding tightly after being exposed to tremendous heat and pressure.
The Crater of Diamonds State Park was opened in 1972 when the State of Arkansas bought the land and opened it to tourists. The park today boasts many incredible finds from 6 carat diamonds to a 16.37 carat diamond found in 1975.
Facilities offered at the park: a water playground, Visitors center with numerous displays, restaurant and camping. For more information visit the park website at www.craterofdiamondsstatepark.com.