The Ultimate Gold Rush Artifact
This is literally a piece of history that changed the world... an original artifact from the California gold discovery site, the only one in private hands! Woodblock measures 11x11x5 ¾''
The Excavation
In 1924, Philip K. Bekeart was part of an excavation with his father to find the ruins of Sutter's Mill. The excavation was financed by the Society of California Pioneers. Philip B. Bekeart, was born in Coloma in 1861, son of Jules Francois Bekeart, who arrived in Coloma in 1849 and established a business selling firearms. In 1868, the Bekeart family sold the Coloma business and relocated to San Francisco.
Included is a typed document from Philip Kendall Bekeart that describes the writing on the block and some of the story behind its excavation. Written on the block in black crayon by Philip B. Bekeart: "This block sawed off log from old Sutter's Mill by Phil. B. Bekeart and his son, Phil. K. Dekeart. Half of this log is at the Marshall Monument at Coloma-the balance at the Society of California Pioneers. Recovered by Phil. B. Bekeart Aug. & Sept., 1924."
Philip K. mentions that his father "was always mindful of the lost site of Sutter's Mill" and that "he questioned the old timers of Coloma as to their knowledge of the location of the mill." In summer of 1924, Philip B. received news that pieces of wood had been spotted sticking out of a dry river bed. Father and son drove to Coloma and the excavation began.
The bottom of the block has an American Railway Express Co. baggage tag made out to Bekeart in S.F. dated Sep. 26, 1924.
Also included are three photographs. The first shows a group of men, including Philip B., standing with a large saw in front of a store. The back of the photo has a description written by Henry Lahiff, C.E. Lahiff mentions that they found this saw during the excavation, in the "sawdust on the bedrock." The excavation was "about ten feet in depth through river gravel and boulders." The second photograph is a view of the American River, with a pen mark and writing from Dekeart that pinpoints the exact spot. The third photograph shows two flagpoles and has writing from Dekeart noting that these flags were erected by the State to mark where they thought the mill was, and they "were not far off … as I proved…"
The document and photographs establish excellent provenance for the piece.
The gold discovery on January 24, 1848 at Sutter's Mill was the iconic moment that started the California Gold Rush. Coloma, CA

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