![]() Located just off the downtown historic district, the inn offers 5 unique rooms (most with private baths) and balconies overlooking the Nevada City Historic Flume. Gold Creek Inn B&B is housed in a restored 1860 Victorian. At Bridgeport, you can see the longest single-span covered bridge of its type in the country. If you want to try your hand at gold panning, local shops sell the pan, and can point you toward easy-to-access locations.Īnd if you have the time, drive out to Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park to hike the Independence Trail and other trails to historic mining sites. The Pelton Wheel here is the largest one in the world, and there are many other exhibits that detail how gold was mined here during the Gold Rush. Visit the North Star Mining Museum and Pelton Wheel Exhibit, located in a stone building from 1895. Join a docent-led tour to view the engines, artifacts, and restored cars, and to learn about the history of the local narrow gauge railroad. The Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum is a must-visit. ![]() You can also tour the pretty and historic Victorian residential neighborhoods, which look especially stunning in the fall. The downtown area is lined with lots of beautiful trees, and you can actually go on a walking tour to discover them. Interior of the theatre! PC: Nevada City Chamber Most of the gold rush towns in our round-up can be accessed off Historic Highway 49, making them convenient to visit as part of a road trip.Īnd, just in case you were wondering, there’s still gold in “them thar hills!” Sutter CreekĬombining the best of historic and contemporary, beautiful Sutter Creek, known as the Jewel of the Mother Lode, is one of the best gold rush towns in California to put on your itinerary. Today you will find gold rush towns to explore in many parts of California, but the richest treasure trove of towns can be found in California Gold Country, also called Mother Lode Country. Gold mining in California peaked in 1852, and although the region continued to be mined in subsequent years, the Gold Rush faded away into history by 1857. Gold mining then became industrialized, with heavy machinery and more sophisticated extraction techniques, and individual miners moved into jobs in mines. In 1850, much of the surface gold had been exhausted, making it difficult for miners to get rich using easy methods. 1850 and Beyond: The Gold Rush peaks and ebbs Seemingly overnight, towns came to life in the region, with shops, saloons, and other services for the more than 100,000 miners that had flooded California. ![]() 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. Gold rush era facade in Old Town Sacramento
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