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| | Events of the California Gold Rush | | | |
| |  |  |  |  | The overland trail was the cheapest, but slowest route.
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John Sutter was a Swiss
emigrant who arrived in California in 1839. He became a
Mexican citizen and received a land grant of 50,000 acres
in Sacramento Valley.
He built Sutter's Fort at the
site of present day Sacramento. At Sutter's Fort he
developed farming and other businesses. Sutter's Fort
became a rest station for travelers and immigrants to
California. On the right is a picture of Sutter's Fort at
the time of the Gold Rush (Source: Library of Congress).
In 1847 John Sutter hired John Marshall to build a
sawmill at a site named Coloma. At the right, below, is a
picture of the Mill at Coloma.
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On January 4, 1848, John
Marshall picked up a piece of metal at the mill that
looked like gold. He took the metal to Sutter. They
tested it and confirmed that it was gold.
Sutter was
afraid that the discovery of gold would take his workers
away from the fields. He was also concerned that gold
would bring prospectors onto his land. He asked Marshall
and the others working at the mill to keep the gold a
secret.
But word got out! By late 1848, word had spread across
the country. On December 5, 1848, President James Polk
speaking to Congress confirmed accounts of gold. The
discovery of gold in California became national news.
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Picture of John Sutter
(Source: Library of Congress) |
Picture of
John Marshall
(Source: Library of Congress)
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The California Gold Rush was the largest migration of people
to California, and started California on the road to what it is
today.
By 1849 the gold
rush was on. People from all over the United States and
the World were rushing to California. People caught
"Gold Fever" in the hope of striking it rich.
Many gold seekers arrived expecting to find rivers
overflowing with gold. Unfortunately, most found
riverbanks crowded with miners.
Most prospectors were
previously storekeepers, cooks, carpenters, teachers,
farmers or some other trade before heading to California
in search of gold. By 1850, the mining country had become
quite populated. Many of the immigrants ended up started
businesses, trading posts, importing goods to seel to
miners, farming and ranching. They took advantage of the
skills they brought with them.
In the mid-1850s gold was becoming very difficult to
find. More people were making fortunes from selling
supplies to miners, than the miners themselves.
When silver was discovered in Nevada in 1859, the
miners headed for Nevada. This ended the California Gold
Rush. null | | | | | | |
| | | | | | The overland trail was the cheapest, but slowest route.
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Many people came to
California by covered wagon. This was a long, difficult
journey.
Travelers needed to travel across difficult
land. They needed to cross the desert and climb the
mountains with their wagons, mules and oxen.
It was very important that the travelers left early
enough so not to get caught in the Sierra Mountains
during the winter. Many were aware of the tragic fate of
the Donner party in 1846.
Coming by land with covered wagons had its advantages. Travelers could pack a lot more gear. They would pack a
cooking stove, plates and cups, and forks and knives.
They would carry enough food and supplies for a 6 month
journey. Food was usually bacon, ham, rice, dried fruits,
bread, flour, sugar, rice, molasses, butter, coffee and
tea.
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Overland travelers would
take tools for mining, farming, and fixing the wagon.
They also took guns and ammunition, and clothes and
blankets.
All of this had to be carried in a wagon
about 9 feet long and 4 feet wide. Some travelers also brought cattle and chickens to
provide food. This was a difficult route. People were often poorly
prepared. Many people died during the trip from illness,
starvation and drowning.
On Foot: Many people local to
California, and those arriving by ship, ended up walking
on foot to gold country.
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| | External web resource links | | | | | | | | | Presently there are no links | | | | | | | |
