People here do like to go to gold country which is where the gold rush occurred in the mid 1800s and thus the name. I live in californias gold country and i know a great deal about our history. Calaveras county, one of the original 27 counties of the state, was organized at the 184950 session of the california state legislature. California gold country is a big place, loosely defined as the sierra foothills along california highway 49.
Additionally, this book discusses the rapid development of california and its impact on the slavery question. Home to one of the oldest operating taoist temples in california, this regions rich history includes a visit from dr. Northern california pic hide this posting restore restore this posting. We dont know for sure when the first human picked up a gold nugget and thought, hey, this is pretty cool. California gold country extends from the western slope of the sierra nevada mountains to west sacramento. Will bagleys scoundrels tale is an exhaustive collection of primary sources related to the life of one of the gold rushs most famous characters, mormon leader turned buccaneering businessman sam brannan. While establishing a sawmill for john sutter near coloma, james w.
Explore gold country california gold country visitors guide. Organized by location, south to north, this is a great book to organize a trip, which is what i did, twice. The golden corridor is not your average history book. Williams is a retired rn and fulltime freelance writer. Take a trip back in time, to the days of old, to the days of gold, to the days of 49. Gold country is a region of california that includes foothills of the western sierra nevada mountains and many historic towns that date to the 1849 california gold rush. Buried treasure treasure hunting gold sluice gold mining equipment metal detecting tips gem hunt free shed panning for gold gold prospecting. An illustrated history of the most productive mines with. Welcome to gold country hollywood draws the dreamers and silicon valley lures fortunehunters, but this isnt the first time droves of aspiring young folk have streamed into the golden state.
The california state library got its start during the height of the gold rush. Because the gold in the california gravel beds was so richly concentrated, the early fortyniners simply panned for gold in californias rivers and streams, a form of placer mining. Youll have your work cut out for you with this handy book that is filled covertocover with california gold maps and information. However, panning cannot take place on a large scale, and industrious miners and groups of miners graduated to placer mining cradles and rockers or longtoms to process larger. One of the most buzzworthy books of the summer, emma clines novel takes place in 1960s northern california, following teenage evie boyd. The california state assayer refined and assayed gold dust and cast into ingots weighing a minimum of two troy ounces, ingots not being mentioned in the. At one time it embraced a portion of amador, alpine and mono counties. However, flakes of gold have been found in paleolithic caves dating back as far as 40,000 b.
List of books and articles about california history. Everything we had read about california history was there, preserved in old sacramento and in the sleepy towns of gold country. Her interest in the history of the west was cemented after living in the gold country for thirty years, where she and her family sloshed through creeks, panned for gold and explored abandoned mining camps. Take a peek into the colorful era of the 49er as you travel through the northern mines, the central mother lode and the southern mines. If brannans story werent true, you wouldnt believe it. Content in the golden history books about the california gold rush. The argonaut is the site of the worst gold mining disaster in california history. Most archaeological evidence shows that humans who came into contact with.
Highway 49 revisted will take the reader on a trip through californias gold rush country, stopping at mining camps and historic sites along highway 49, the golden chain highway. Old californian days 1889 is the book steele based on that trip. A history of information in the california gold rush by richard t. Following james marshalls discovery of gold at sutters mill in coloma in 1848, californias population leaped from 14,000 to 250,000 in. The most scenic and historic road to drive in the area is known as highway 49 we have visited gold country and. These 49ers established hundreds of instant mining towns along the western foothills of the sierra nevada. List of books and articles about gold rush online research library. A history modern library chronicles california has always been our shangrilathe promised land of countless pilgrims in search of the american dream. Marshall discovered gold and touched off the california gold rush. But in spring, these sierra nevada foothills shine with a different kind of wealth.
Rare photos not appropriate for history books youtube. The gold rush in 1848, the year that california became a part of the united states, another major event in the states history occurred. Constitution forbid the coining of money by states in 1789. California gold country explore real california gold mines. The state assay office of california was the only mint in the country to operate under the authority of a state, since the u. The california gold rush inspired a new american dreamthe dream of instant wealth, won by audacity and good luck. On august 27th, 1922, 47 immigrant miners became trapped at the 4,650 foot. Mother lode country, california getting thereroadtrip factsgold.
The discovery of gold in1848 unleashed the largest migration in united states history and drew people from a dozen countries to form a multiethnic society in california. The cry went up from sutters mill and brought tens of thousands stampeding into california from the four corners of the world. San francisco slavery in gold rush days new discoveries prompt exhibition, reexamination of states involvement jason b. Like many young girls, she feels lonely and outofplace that is, until she meets the mesmerizing suzanne, and is drawn into a group of people following a dangerously charismatic man. In the aptly named gold country, the 1848 discovery of glittering flecks sparked the largest mass migration in americas history, when more than 300,000 pioneers headed west to california s gold mines hoping to strike. The author begins by introducing us to various gold seekers which then allows him to describe various routes to get there, the global impact, the motivations and hardships encountered. It deals with the california gold rush, but it is much more than that. Overview of the gold rush by curator emeritus gary f. I love books about history, especially local history. Immigrants from italys northern provinces were drawn here by the lure of gold, but it was the allure of the california foothills, where they found the terrain and mediterranean climate similar to that of italy, that convinced them to stay. Many libraries and archives across the country from yale university to the henry e.
I really dont know how many pictures there are,but the book has 229 pages and assuming 2 or 3 per page there must be at least 400. Marysvilles chinatown is the last remaining of thirty such communities built in californias gold country during the gold rush. It is a must read for anyone interested in the history of the gold country, or even for the casual vacationer wanting to know more of the land theyre traveling through. The california gold rush american experience official. After a sparkle in the american river caught james marshalls eye in 1848, more than 300,000 prospectors from america and abroad started digging for. We panned for gold and found a few flakes, but it was the time we spent playing in the river, walking around sacramento, and laughing together at our adventures that was the true treasure. This book is a very welcome addition to my my small library.
Bumping up against the west side of the sierra nevada range, the sierra foothills are where california s past, present, and future merge into one unforgettable destination. The history of sacramento, california, began with its founding by samuel brannan and john augustus sutter, jr. Browse and buy a vast selection of ca gold rush books and collectibles on. Play in the real live california gold rush towns of amador, calaveras and tuolumne counties and experience sierra nevada high country adventures. The california gold rush inspired a new american dreamthe dream of instant. Highway 49 revisted will take the reader on a trip through california s gold rush country, stopping at mining camps and historic sites along highway 49, the golden chain highway. The discovery of gold on the american river in 1848 triggered the most astonishing mass movement of peoples since the crusades. I have taken many of the photographs during my travels in the area, and eventually lived just.
Bumping up against the west side of the sierra nevada range, the sierra foothills are where californias past, present, and future merge into one unforgettable destination. This getaway centers on the gold rush towns of tuolumne. California s gold country has been profoundly influenced by italian culture for the last 160 years. Complete map of historic hwy 49 california hwy 49 gold. It ties the gold rush into american and world history, the events that. Highway 49 revisited introduction one morning in january it was a clear, cold morning. Along with their personal histories are creation myths and other traditional material that reflect sacred landscapes, animals and other. Bauer presents concow, pomo, and paiute oral histories recorded during a new deal federal works project, giving voice to native experiences and thoughts about california history. Ever since the initial discovery of gold at sutters mill in 1848, there have been thousands of gold seekers exploring california in search of the yellow metal. A book that explores history, politics, geology, adventure and industry with. The discovery of gold nuggets in the sacramento valley in early 1848 sparked the california gold rush, one of the largest mass migrations in american history. Wildflowers pop into brilliant bloom, creeks burble, and. He provides a sketch of the history of california before the gold rush and.
Features examples drawn from the california history sections special collections. The book was developed from my popular series of articles in the california geology and california mining journal magazines over the years, starting in 1985. Its a place full of history, with lots of cute little towns and winding roads. I shall never forget that morningas i was taking my usual walk along the race after shutting off the water, my eye was caught with the glimpse of something shining in the bottom of the ditch. The sisters brothers by patrick dewitt, daughter of fortune by isabel allende, the luminaries by eleanor catton, walk on eart. The california gold rush 18481855 was a gold rush that began on january 24, 1848, when.
The literary history of the gold rush is reflected in the works of mark twain the celebrated jumping frog of. Huntington library preserve formidable collections of gold rush material, but the state librarys direct relationship to marshalls earthshaking discovery gives it a unique role. Between the discovery of california placer gold in 1848 and the rush to alaska fifty years later, the. Human fascination with gold is as old as recorded history. This is a magnificent collection of photographs of gold rush country. Comprehensive california gold rush history, including counties, cities, historic and current photos, maps, sights, lodging, restaurants, shopping, wineries, golf. The california gold rush was by far the most significant gold discovery in the united states, and the state remains one of the top gold producers in the country.
In the aptly named gold country, the 1848 discovery of glittering flecks sparked the largest mass migration in americas history, when more than 300,000 pioneers headed west to californias gold mines. Haunted hotels of the california gold country by nancy k. Sun yatsen, the first president of the republic of china. A global history of gold rushes university of california press. The photographs are varied in size from double page panaromas. The territory was neglected by spain for more than two centuries until 1769 because of reports of the regions poverty and a general slowdown of.