Yankee Jims

The state named a landmark after a man it calls a reputed lawless character, and then dropped the apostrophe. Gold was found here in 1850 by Yankee Jim, and by 1857 the town was one of the most important in Placer County. The first mining ditch in the county was dug here by H. Starr and Eugene Phelps, and Colonel William McClure brought hydraulic mining to the area in June 1853. The register puts the apostrophe back.

What the plaque says

YANKEE JIMS GOLD WAS DISCOVERED HERE IN 1850 BY "YANKEE JIM" A REPUTED LAWLESS CHARACTER AND BY 1857 TOWN WAS ONE OF MOST IMPORTANT IN PLACER COUNTY. THE FIRST MINING DITCH IN THIS COUNTY CONSTRUCTED HERE BY H. STARR AND EUGENE PHELPS. COLONEL WILLIAM McCLURE INTRODUCED HYDRAULIC MINING THIS AREA IN JUNE OF 1853. STATE REGISTERED LANDMARK NO. 398 TABLET PLACED BY CALIFORNIA CENTENNIALS COMMISSION. BASE FURNISHED BY PLACER COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY DEDICATED AUGUST 20, 1950

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park — 15 mi
  The tailrace at Coloma where a carpenter found gold in January 1848 and the world came running.
• Empire Mine State Historic Park — 16 mi
  The oldest, deepest, richest hard-rock gold mine in California, with 367 miles of flooded tunnels underneath.
• Nevada City — 18 mi
  Gaslamps, brick storefronts, and the Nisenan who are still fighting to be recognized on their own ground.
• Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park — 24 mi
  A canyon washed out of a mountain by water cannon, and the lawsuit that ended hydraulic mining.

More markers nearby

• Forest Hill — 2.4 mi
• Iowa Hill — 5.3 mi
• Michigan Bluff — 6.7 mi
• First Transcontinental Railroad - Colfax — 6.9 mi