The cabin where Marshall lived after discovering gold is open to view. Nearby, the Gold Rush-era St. John's Catholic Church and Emmanuel Episcopal Church display religious artifacts. The Marshall Monument, a towering bronze statue of James Marshall pointing to the spot where he discovered gold, sits high atop a hill overlooking the park. The state museum focuses on Gold Rush history, gold mining methods and the Native American who first inhabited the area. D.C. A gift shop carries samples of gold from the American River and Gold Rush-era souvenirs.
Giant trees provide the four picnic areas with shade for an afternoon meal.
Several campgrounds are located nearby, however not in the park. James Marshall wasn't the first in his family to make history - his great grandfather signed the Declaration of Independence. Mariposa, Tuolumne, Calaveras, Amador and El Dorado. In fact, more gold was later found in Placer, Sierra, Plumas and Nevada counties. The largest gold nugget ever found turned up at Carson Hill on the Stanislaus River in 1854.