The cooperating association for Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park
Eureka Experience
Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park and the Gold Discovery Park Association are proud to offer school or group programs to enhance your visit to the park. We offer four different programs which can enhance your experience learning about the California Gold Rush.
Program Pricing (Groups of 10 or more):
Gold Panning Lessons $7 per student
Poke Program $7 per student
Wagons Ho $150 per group up to 30 people
Gold Discovery Tour $60 per group up to 30 people
For reservations or info call (530) 622-3069 or email Eureka.Experience48@gmail.com
Gold Panning Lessons
With our Gold Panning program students will learn how to gold pan. They will receive a lesson and be able to keep whatever they find in a vial that they can take home. With the use of our pans and a helping hand from park staff and volunteers, the students will be able to find real gold, fool’s gold, and garnets. They will also learn that the life of a miner was not easy, but that the thrill of “gold fever” was what kept them going.
Poke Program
Students will learn how to make their very own miner’s “Poke”. They will learn who taught the miners to make these bags to hold their gold and how the miners used their gold to pay for necessities. They will learn how gold was used as payment and how that is different than today. We will provide the pieces to make the “poke” and beads for the children to decorate them.
Wagons Ho! Program
Get ready to head out west! As a group we will step back in time and learn what the pioneers needed to pack in their wagons to move out west. Staff member's and volunteers will describe different tools needed to farm and build a house along with household items and cookware. Each student will participate and help pack the wagon and learn the different roles family members had during the journey. They will also learn about the hardships the pioneers faced during the trip.
Gold Discovery Tour
A guide will take your class on a walking tour around our park stopping at the most important places. The tour lasts approximately 45 minutes and is less than a mile in distance. Students will learn about the Native American's who first occupied the land, Sutter's Mill, the discovery of gold by James W. Marshall, and they will learn what lead to the California Gold Rush of 1849.
If there is adequate time, the tour guide will also take your class to visit the Wah Hop store and talk about the different mining methods that were used during the Gold Rush era.
Junior Ranger Program
We now have a Junior Ranger Program that is available for school groups and visitors.
If you are a teacher and would like to participate please click on the link below where you can download and print off a copy of the booklet. You can either use it just in the classroom or you can print them off for your class to bring on their visit to the park.
Visitors who would like to partcipate can pick up the booklet at the museum for no charge and explore our park using the Junior Ranger booklet. After completion you may purchase a Junior Ranger patch at the Mercantile for $2.00.
For further questions on the Junior Ranger Program please contact Susan Okey at susan.okey@parks.ca.gov or (530) 622-3069
Environmental Educational Programs
Environmental education programs are given by the American River Conservancy (ARC). Click here to be redirected to the ARC's website for information on the programs they offer.