Handout
Other

Gold Rush Players: Joaquin Murieta

For Students 9th - 10th
Information about the notorious Joaquin Murieta, Mexican miner who became a legend after a book was written about him in 1854.
Handout
PBS

New Perspectives on the West: James Wilson Marshall (1810 1885)

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief biography of James Marshall who discovered gold at Sutter's Mill in 1848, which led to the California Gold Rush.
Handout
Sacramento Bee

The Sacramento Bee: Timeline of John Sutter

For Students 9th - 10th
John Sutter was the unwitting lynchpin in the California Gold Rush. Read the time line of events that show how he suffered for that discovery.
Handout
State Library of North Carolina

N Cpedia: Gold Mining in the Uwharries

For Students 9th - 10th
In the early decades of the 1800s, the southern Piedmont's gold mines attracted prospectors, investors, and miners. Tar Heel gold had first been found in 1799 on John Reed's farm in Cabarrus County, several miles west of the Uwharrie...
Graphic
Curated OER

Object of History: Chinese Miners (Chinese Immigration During the Gold Rush)

For Students 9th - 10th
An image is provided of "Gan Saam Meets El Dorado," which depicts the Chinese miners in California during the 1850s in search of gold.
Primary
Other

California Gold Country: James W. Marshall's Account of First Discovery of Gold

For Students 9th - 10th
James W. Marshall's own words about discovering gold at Sutter's Mill in California in 1848.
Website
Virtual Museum of Canada

Virtual Museum of Canada: Community Stories: Mysterious 36

For Students 9th - 10th
The Mysterious 36 were a group of men who went to the Yukon to prospect for gold at the time of the Klondike rush. They were looking for other strikes, however, that they might produce a rich claim. They became known as the Mysterious 36...
Primary
US National Archives

Our Documents: Treaty of Fort Laramie(1868)

For Students 9th - 10th
Read and view a copy of the complete text of the treaty of Fort Laramie which recognized the Black Hills as part of the Sioux Reservation. Accompanying documentary explains how the treaty was broken as a result of the discovery of gold...
Online Course
Schools of California Online Resources for Education

Score: Gold Mountain Webquest

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
At this site from the Schools of California Online Resources for Education, students will travel back in time as Chinese Immigrants in this detailed WebQuest. By using the resources and links given, students will file a job profile,...
Handout
Sacramento Bee

Gold Rush: Streams Poisoned by Mercury

For Students 9th - 10th
This CalGoldRush site discusses the damage mercury used in gold mining has done to California's environment
Handout
Sacramento Bee

The Sacramento Bee: Polk Is Caught in the Rush

For Students 9th - 10th
This site discusses James K. Polk's place in the gold rush of California in the 1840's.
Handout
PBS

New Perspectives on the West: John Augustus Sutter (1803 1880)

For Students 9th - 10th
Biography of John Sutter, a Swiss settler who helped to develop Californian and saw his fortunes dwindle after the California Gold Rush.
Primary
Other

Ailello Studios: The Land of Glittering Dreams

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn some interesting facts about the California Gold Rush through images, personal stories and other writings.
Website
Other

Klondike Kate

For Students 3rd - 8th
Biographical information on "Klondike Kate" Ryan who played a role in Canadian history by becoming the first female gold inspector during the Klondike gold rush. She was also a nurse, political figure, and business woman.
Primary
Museum of the City of San Francisco

Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco: Samuel Brannan's Bank

For Students 9th - 10th
This site contains a poster of a new bank started by Sam Brannen in San Francisco during the gold rush.
Handout
Other

Yuba City: John Augustus Sutter

For Students 9th - 10th
This article traces the career of the Swiss American pioneer, John Sutter. The discovery of gold in 1848 at his lumber mill led to the California Gold Rush.
Website
Other

Boulder History: A Timeline

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource presents a chronological timeline of events that helped to shape Boulder, Colorado history starting with the Pikes Peak Gold Rush in 1858.
Website
Oakland Museum of California

Giant Gold Machines Gold Dredges

For Students 9th - 10th
This page gives a brief explanation of extracting minerals by the use of gold dredges. This was a process that sped up the process of finding gold.
Website
Oakland Museum of California

Giant Gold Machines Hard Rock Mining

For Students 9th - 10th
This page gives a brief explanation of extracting hard rock quartz. This was a labor intensive process that was often dangerous, but necessary to find gold.
Handout
Sacramento Bee

The Sacramento Bee: Merchant Digs More Than Gold

For Students 9th - 10th
This short article discusses Heinrich Schliemann's gold mining experience, including the death of his brother, before discovering the lost city of Troy during his archeological period.
Handout
Other

Virginia City Preservation Alliance: Virginia City History

For Students 9th - 10th
The gold rush in Montana centered around Virginia City. Find out about the riches found there and the development of Virginia City as a prominent Rocky Mountain town.
Activity
Other

New York Public Library: Heading West: Mining the West

For Students 3rd - 8th
A short page on the discovery of gold at Sutter's Fort as well as the impact of mining in the west on relations with Native Americans.
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: The Mining Boom

For Students 5th - 8th
The allure of getting rich quick by finding gold or silver was just a dream for most prospectors. Read about the gold and silver rushes that usually ended up enriching the mining industry, not the miner. Find out about the make-up of the...
Graphic
Oakland Museum of California

Gold Rush: Miners and Sluice Boxes

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource provides a picture and short description of the miners' use of the sluice box.

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