Gold Fever!

Something small and shiny sparkled in the water, catching the eye of James W. Marshall. It was January 24, 1848. The carpenter was working at a site called Sutter’s Mill. He was building a sawmill on the American River in what is now Coloma, California. 

“It made my heart thump, for I was certain it was gold,” Marshall later wrote.

Soon he spotted another golden pebble. His discovery set off the California Gold Rush—and changed the United States forever. It led to the largest migration in the country’s history up to that point.

“When people learned that gold was available for the taking in California, many thousands traveled there from all over the world,” says historian H.W. Brands.

Something small and shiny sparkled in the water. It caught the eye of James W. Marshall. He was a carpenter. It was January 24, 1848. Marshall was working at a site called Sutter’s Mill. He was building a sawmill on the American River in what is now Coloma, California. 

“It made my heart thump, for I was certain it was gold,” Marshall later wrote. 

Soon he spotted another golden pebble. His discovery set off the California Gold Rush. It changed the United States forever. The Gold Rush led to the largest migration in the country’s history up to that point.

“When people learned that gold was available for the taking in California, many thousands traveled there from all over the world,” says historian H.W. Brands.

At the time of Marshall’s discovery, most of the American West, including California, belonged to Mexico. That changed less than two weeks later. The U.S. gained all that land as part of a treaty that ended the Mexican-American War (1846-1848). The leaders of the two nations didn’t know gold was part of the deal.

News from Sutter’s Mill soon spread. Americans from the East began flocking to California. Gold seekers spent months traveling on horseback, in covered wagons, and by ship. Many used their life’s savings for the long, dangerous journey.

Immigrants from Latin America, Asia, Europe, and Australia also joined the hunt. In total, about 300,000 people moved to California during the Gold Rush.  

At the time of Marshall’s discovery, most of the American West belonged to Mexico. That included California. Things changed less than two weeks later. The U.S. gained all that land. This was part of a treaty that ended the Mexican-American War (1846-1848). The leaders of the two nations didn’t know gold was part of the deal.

News from Sutter’s Mill soon spread. Americans from the East began flocking to California. Gold seekers spent months traveling to California. They went on horseback, in covered wagons, and by ship. Many used their life’s savings for the long, dangerous journey.

Immigrants from Latin America and Europe also joined the hunt. Others came from Asia and Australia. In total, about 300,000 people moved to California during the Gold Rush.