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{{Short description|Historic site under Folsom Lake in California}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{coord|38.7035|N|121.1174|W|type:city_region:US|display=title}}<!-- yes, this is in a lake. The former town is now underwater --> {{coord|38.7035|N|121.1174|W|type:city_region:US|display=title}}<!-- yes, this is in a lake. The former town is now underwater -->
{{infobox historic site
]
| name = Mormon Island
⚫ ]
| image = File:MormonIsland.jpg
| caption = View of Miners Hotel, Mormon Island, California, (1850s lithograph)
| coordinates = {{coord|38.7035|-121.1174|display=inline}}
| location = '''Actual site''': Under ]<br/>'''Historic marker''': ]<ref name=CHL/>
| designation1 = California
| designation1_number = 569<ref name=CHL/>
}}
⚫ ]


'''Mormon Island''' was once a ] ], which had an abundance of Mormon immigrants, seeking fortune along the ]. At its peak, the community once was home to 2500 residents, 4 hotels, 1 school, and 7 saloons. The community dwindled after the ] and only a scattered few families were left in the 1940s. '''Mormon Island''' was once a ], which had an abundance of Mormon immigrants seeking gold in the ] during the ]. Its site is in present-day ].


==History==
What was left of Mormon Island was eventually razed, as the ] project was set to flood the town. The only visible remnant of this community is a relocation ], located south of the lake on the dry side of Mormon Island Dam (off of Green Valley Road in ]). The cemetery is also home to other cemeteries that were flooded as well as relocated graves from ] which were unearthed during construction of an on-ramp to ] from Prairie City Road.
Early in March 1848, W. Sidney, S. Willis, and Wilford Hudson, members of the ], set out from Sutter's Fort to hunt deer. Stopping on the south fork of the American River, they found gold. They told their story on returning to the fort, and soon about 150 Mormons and other miners flocked to the site, which was named Mormon Island. This was the first major gold strike in California after ] discovery at ]. The first ball in Sacramento County was held there on December 25, 1849.


The population of the town in 1853 was more than 2,500. It had four hotels, three dry-goods stores, five general merchandise stores, an express office, and many small shops. ] had moved to Mormon Island in July 1850, prior to his mining successes in Montana and Utah.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1xTZAAAAMAAJ |title=Tullidge's Quarterly Magazine |date=1883 |publisher=Edward W. Tullidge; Star Printing Company |language=en |chapter=Biographical Sketch for R. C. Chambers}}</ref>
⚫ ==Geographical Information==
⚫ The "island" was formed by the ] to the western, northern, and eastern sides and a man-made canal formed the southern side. The canal was used to divert water in an effort to find gold deeper within the river bed. Over time, the bulk of the town formed south of this site.<ref name="History of California">{{cite book | last = Theodore| first = Henry | year = 1898 | title = History of California - Volume III | publisher = | url=http://books.google.com/books?id=NUkOAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA55 }}</ref>


A fire destroyed the town in 1856, and it was never rebuilt. The community dwindled after the ] and only a scattered few families were left in the 1940s.
When the lake is at very low levels, some foundations of buildings and an arched bridge can be seen.

What was left of Mormon Island was eventually razed, as the ] project was set to flood the town. The only visible remnant of this community is ],<ref>{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} from the ], ]</ref><ref>{{cite news| url= http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/06/plan-would-replace-controversial-grave-markers/ | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110510073426/http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/06/plan-would-replace-controversial-grave-markers/ | url-status= dead | archive-date= May 10, 2011 | title= Plan would replace controversial grave markers| date=May 6, 2011| work= This Just In (blog)| publisher=CNN | accessdate=2011-05-07}}</ref> a relocation ] located south of the lake on the dry side of Mormon Island Dam (off of Green Valley Road in ]). The cemetery also contains remains exhumed from other cemeteries that were inundated by the creation of Folsom Lake as well as relocated graves from ] which were unearthed during construction of an on-ramp to ] from Prairie City Road.

Mormon Island is now registered as ] #569.<ref name=CHL>{{cite ohp|569|Mormon Island|2012-10-07}}</ref> Because the former site is under ], the historic marker is placed at the Folsom Point picnic area of ].<ref name=CHL/>

⚫ ==Geographical information==
⚫ The "island" was formed by the ] to the western, northern, and eastern sides and a man-made canal formed the southern side. The canal was used to divert water in an effort to find gold deeper within the river bed. Over time, the bulk of the town formed south of this site.<ref name="History of California">{{cite book | last = Theodore| first = Henry | year = 1898 | title = History of California - Volume III | publisher = N.J. Stone| url=https://archive.org/details/historycaliforn13hittgoog | page = }}</ref>

When the lake is at very low levels, some foundations of buildings and an arched bridge can be seen. Some outskirts of the town were exposed in late 2013 and early 2014 when Folsom Lake was at a record low due to the ],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kcra.com/news/dry-spell-reveals-submerged-gold-rush-town/-/11797728/23682266/-/10coag8z/-/index.html|title=Folsom Lake dry spell reveals submerged gold rush town|date=19 January 2014}}</ref> but most of the town remains underwater.

==See also==
* {{C|Mining communities of the California Gold Rush}}
* ], another former Mormon community submerged by a man-made lake
* ], an island in the ] below the mouth of the ].
* Mormon Island in ]


==References== ==References==
Line 16: Line 41:


==External links== ==External links==
* {{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} from the ], ]
* * from myfolsom.com
* , Raise The Stakes Editions

{{Sacramento County, California}}
{{California Gold Rush}}

{{authority control}}


⚫ ]
] ]
] ]
]
]
]
⚫ ]
] ]
] ]

Latest revision as of 18:07, 11 September 2024

Historic site under Folsom Lake in California

38°42′13″N 121°07′03″W / 38.7035°N 121.1174°W / 38.7035; -121.1174

Mormon Island
View of Miners Hotel, Mormon Island, California, (1850s lithograph)
LocationActual site: Under Folsom Lake
Historic marker: Folsom Lake State Recreation Area
Coordinates38°42′13″N 121°07′03″W / 38.7035°N 121.1174°W / 38.7035; -121.1174
California Historical Landmark
Reference no.569
Topographical map of Mormon Island in 1892

Mormon Island was once a mining town, which had an abundance of Mormon immigrants seeking gold in the American River during the California Gold Rush. Its site is in present-day Sacramento County, California.

History

Early in March 1848, W. Sidney, S. Willis, and Wilford Hudson, members of the Mormon Battalion, set out from Sutter's Fort to hunt deer. Stopping on the south fork of the American River, they found gold. They told their story on returning to the fort, and soon about 150 Mormons and other miners flocked to the site, which was named Mormon Island. This was the first major gold strike in California after James W. Marshall's discovery at Coloma. The first ball in Sacramento County was held there on December 25, 1849.

The population of the town in 1853 was more than 2,500. It had four hotels, three dry-goods stores, five general merchandise stores, an express office, and many small shops. R. C. Chambers had moved to Mormon Island in July 1850, prior to his mining successes in Montana and Utah.

A fire destroyed the town in 1856, and it was never rebuilt. The community dwindled after the California gold rush and only a scattered few families were left in the 1940s.

What was left of Mormon Island was eventually razed, as the Folsom Dam project was set to flood the town. The only visible remnant of this community is Mormon Island Cemetery, a relocation cemetery located south of the lake on the dry side of Mormon Island Dam (off of Green Valley Road in Folsom, California). The cemetery also contains remains exhumed from other cemeteries that were inundated by the creation of Folsom Lake as well as relocated graves from Prairie City which were unearthed during construction of an on-ramp to U.S. Route 50 from Prairie City Road.

Mormon Island is now registered as California Historical Landmark #569. Because the former site is under Folsom Lake, the historic marker is placed at the Folsom Point picnic area of Folsom Lake State Recreation Area.

Geographical information

The "island" was formed by the American River to the western, northern, and eastern sides and a man-made canal formed the southern side. The canal was used to divert water in an effort to find gold deeper within the river bed. Over time, the bulk of the town formed south of this site.

When the lake is at very low levels, some foundations of buildings and an arched bridge can be seen. Some outskirts of the town were exposed in late 2013 and early 2014 when Folsom Lake was at a record low due to the 2012–14 North American drought, but most of the town remains underwater.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Mormon Island". Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved October 7, 2012.
  2. "Biographical Sketch for R. C. Chambers". Tullidge's Quarterly Magazine. Edward W. Tullidge; Star Printing Company. 1883.
  3. Negro Hill Cemetery Relocation from the US Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District
  4. "Plan would replace controversial grave markers". This Just In (blog). CNN. May 6, 2011. Archived from the original on May 10, 2011. Retrieved May 7, 2011.
  5. Theodore, Henry (1898). History of California - Volume III. N.J. Stone. p. 55.
  6. "Folsom Lake dry spell reveals submerged gold rush town". January 19, 2014.

External links

Municipalities and communities of Sacramento County, California, United States
County seat: Sacramento
Cities
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Unincorporated
communities
Ghost towns
California Gold Rush
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