California Code, Public Resources Code - PRC § 5077.6

Because of its clear function as the interpretive highway of the Gold Rush, and because of outstanding efforts of public agencies and the private sector to increase accessibility to physically disabled persons along parts of its route, State Highway Route 49 is hereby designated as a heritage corridor, including all sections which link the Counties of Sierra, Nevada, Placer, El Dorado, Amador, Calaveras, Tuolumne, Mariposa, and Madera, known collectively as California's Gold Country, and shall be recognized by the Department of Transportation and officially known as the Golden Chain Highway.