a) Sutter’s Mill

The first significant gold discovery in California, which sparked the Gold Rush in 1848, occurred at Sutter’s Mill. This discovery, made by James W. Marshall, led to a mass influx of prospectors and settlers to California, dramatically transforming the region’s economy and demographics. The Gold Rush was a pivotal event in American history, fueling westward expansion and contributing to California’s rapid growth and eventual statehood. Sutter’s Mill and the Gold Rush epitomize the era’s spirit of adventure, risk-taking, and the quest for prosperity.