Gold was first discovered by James Marshall in 1848 while building a sawmill for John Sutter in Coloma, California. Word quickly spread, attracting over 300,000 prospectors from around the world over the next few years seeking fortune in the California Gold Rush. They arrived by three main routes - around Cape Horn, across the Isthmus of Panama, or overland. Many of the early 49ers panned for gold in streams and rivers, though mining operations using picks and shovels to dig in caves also emerged.