
They arrived by land, making the daunting journey across the country, or by sea, traveling around the Cape of Good Horn or Panama.

1849: The 49ers arrive in Californiaīy the end of 1848, folks on the East Coast were convinced about the fortunes that could be made in California, and thousands of prospective miners headed west.ĭuring 1849, California saw a huge influx of prospectors, who came to be called the 49ers. They were soon followed by migrants from numerous places, mainly with boat access to the west coast: migrants from as far away as China and Peru joined the quest for easy fortunes. Marshall and Sutter tried to keep the discovery a secret, but soon the news spread to San Francisco, causing many of the men in the city to arrive to seek their fortunes in Gold Country. The colony later went on to develop into the city of Sacramento. On January 24, 1848, James Marshall discovered flecks of gold in the American River at Coloma, in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada.Īt the time, Marshall was working to build a water-powered sawmill for John Sutter, founder of the New Helvetia colony. The California Gold Rush, which started in 1848, peaked in 1852, and faded away in 1857, is considered one of the most significant events in 19th century US history. Map of the Best California Gold Rush Towns A Brief History of California’s Gold Rushīefore we delve into describing the best gold rush towns to put on your Gold Country itinerary, here’s a short history of California’s famous Gold Rush! TABLE OF CONTENTSīest Gold Rush Towns in California Gold Country However you choose to discover the history of California’s Gold Rush, you will enjoy visiting the vibrant gold rush towns we’ve rounded up in this article. You can also do a Gold Country road trip to visit the many gold rush towns and historic state parks that showcase the history of California’s Gold Rush, and soak in the natural beauty of the area. For more details, refer to our disclosure.


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