Leidesdorff Research Center – Black Miners Bar – Groundbreaking Ceremony and Work Day

In 1844, Honorable William Alexander Leidesdorff, Jr. acquired Rancho Rio De Los Americanos, 8 Spanish leagues or roughly 35,521 acres as a Mexican Land Grant with the unique added stipulation not to disturb the Native Americans migrations upon his property, part of today’s vast American River Parkway.

Our California Gold Rush began Winter of 1848 and by Fall of 1854, the initial Negro Bar mining camp had grown into a transportation/supply hub for the Regional Gold Mining District.

The nearly mile long gravel bar along the American River was established upon land entitled to Leidesdorff, “African Founding Father of California, the Historic Townsite of Negro Bar, Sacramento County.

The California Gold Mining District along the American River attracted international fame during the California Gold Rush Era, 1848-1855.

Lovingly called 49ers’ the 1849 gold mining towns of Negro Hill, Mormon Island, Negro Bar and others come alive this 175 Anniversary Year as we showcase “hidden secrets” researching, reclaiming and officially documenting the salient contributions by early California Pioneers of Pan African Ancestry.

Reclaiming the Past Project, once officially apart of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom, will once again showcase our ongoing quest for freedom, equity and inclusion.

“Black Miners Bar, est. 2022 by CA State Parks Commission” is the initial home for our Leidesdorff Research Center as we continue the journey to qualify and quantify a central hub of our California Underground Railroad Network to Freedom (1840-1875)

Everyone is invited to join our “Groundbreaking Ceremony and Work Day” as we implement long-standing efforts to document, preserve, interpret and showcase salient contributions by people of Pan African Descent during our Gold Rush Era, this special 175th Anniversary Year of 1849, honoring our early California Pioneers both enslaved and free.