Maren's 8th Birthday Party!

What girl turning 8 would want to have a birthday party during which a former 4th grade teacher and author would give extensive lectures about the California Gold Rush, and everyone would be forced to wear fake beards, so they would look like old-time prospectors??

Our very own MAREN wanted such a party!


Coloma, California - June 30, 2012.


James Marshall discovered gold here on January 24, 1848!


The gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill, at the south fork of the American River. This is a photo of Sutter's Mill in 1850.

It was John Sutter's sawmill, which became ground zero for tens of thousands of fortune-seeking prospectors after James Marshall bragged about his discovery of gold at a local saloon.

Here are Maren, Elias and Deacon in a re-creation of Sutter's Mill in 2012.


Then the group stopped at James Marshall's memorial...


...where Terri's uncle, Mike Coder, author of a book about James Marshall and former 4th grade teacher, told the whole story of Mr. Marshall and John Sutter's partnership at Sutter's Mill.


If you can see the shape Uncle Mike scratched out with his foot in the dirt, this was the size of plots of land arbitrarily claimed by early prospectors along the riverbank.


A visit to the cemetery... I don't think the handwritten part of the sign was the handiwork of anyone at Maren's birthday party.


Maren, Elias and Deacon pay their respects.


The whole group at an old church adjacent to the cemetery.


Then it was on to the jail!




Grandma looks like she's enjoying herself in jail.


Not sure she would enjoy herself so much in this "hotbox," built for solitary confinement! Good times!


Next stop: the Blacksmith!


A working blacksmith explained his craft to everyone at Maren's birthday party.




A couple of pics from the Gold Discovery Museum.




Time for Maren's party guests to discover some gold themselves! Here they are at a trough...








Mike and Mike take a short break before heading down to the river...


...where EVERYONE got to pan for gold, just like those old bearded prospectors.






A wide shot. Thank you Derek Spielberg for all the pictorial coverage of this event.


Everyone found a few flakes of pyrite... or was there real gold in there, too??




Grandpa found the most!


Gold prices in 1848 and 2012. Looks like Grandpa's buying dinner!!


A cute pic of Ethan and Auntie Jana.


Later, the group gathered for cake and presents at Grammie & Gramps' house in Fair Oaks.




Born in 1909, Great-Grandpa Orville might have been born too late to have experienced the gold rush. But at 102, he's always the life of the party!!


Happy 8th Birthday, Maren. We love you!!