The first documented discovery of gold in California occurred at Rancho San Francisco in 1842, six years before the California Gold Rush. On March 9, 1842, Francisco Lopez took a rest under an oak tree (see picture below) and had a dream that he was floating on a pool of gold. When he awoke, he pulled a few wild onions from the ground finding flakes of gold in the roots. This sparked a minor gold rush of about 2,000 people.
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when James W. Marshall found a gold nugget at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California.
John Augustus Sutter and James Marshall tried to keep the discovery a secret. It wasn't until The New York Herald broke the news to the East Coast of the United States on August 19, 1848 and President Polk announced the discovery on December 5th of that year that the gold rush began.
About one in five died within six months of arriving, as disease raged amid the poor conditions.
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| By Konrad Summers - https://www.flickr.com/photos |
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when James W. Marshall found a gold nugget at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California.
John Augustus Sutter and James Marshall tried to keep the discovery a secret. It wasn't until The New York Herald broke the news to the East Coast of the United States on August 19, 1848 and President Polk announced the discovery on December 5th of that year that the gold rush began.
About one in five died within six months of arriving, as disease raged amid the poor conditions.
During the height of the California Gold Rush, an egg would cost the equivalent of $25 in today’s money, coffee went for $100/pound, and a pair of boots would set you back more than $2,500.
During the California Gold Rush a Chinese laundry man named John-John washed enough gold dust out of pants cuffs and shirttails of miners to set himself up for life.
Neither Sutter or Marshall discovered any gold worth mentioning, and both died poor men.
The Yukon Hotel in Dawson City, built in 1898 during the Klondike Gold Rush, was sold for $1
During the California Gold Rush a Chinese laundry man named John-John washed enough gold dust out of pants cuffs and shirttails of miners to set himself up for life.
Neither Sutter or Marshall discovered any gold worth mentioning, and both died poor men.
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| Sailing card for the clipper ship California, depicting scenes from the California gold rush. |
The Yukon Hotel in Dawson City, built in 1898 during the Klondike Gold Rush, was sold for $1
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