California Gold Rush

Learn about the history behind the Gold Rush along with what actually happened to John Sutter.

These narratives from 1849-1900 give eyewitness accounts about the pioneer experience between the time of the Gold Rush and turn of the twentieth century. The text of these 190 documents is available online through the Library of Congress' American Memory Project.

In 1876, Charles B. Turrill wrote about the terms and practices in use by gold miners in California. Very interesting reading for historians and genealogists alike.

John Sutter's own account of the discovery of gold on his property.

From the Sacramento Bee, learn all about the history behind and the impact of the Gold Rush. Truly a great source of information.

Check out this brief biographical sketch of the man who started it all by a chance discovery of gold on his land.

Discover the key events of the California Gold Rush as collected by the Museum of the City of San Francisco.

Learn about the important and often forgotten role of women in the California Gold Rush.