Real 49ers

No I'm not talking about Joe Montana and Jerry Rice. I'm talking about the men and women of the California Gold Rush. One of the most important time periods in shaping California's history, and the namesake of that fabled San Francisco 49ers football franchise. 

But beyond mere fable, what are the facts? What really happened? The full story of California's Gold Rush history. Many of us remember from our grade school encounter with California history that James Marshall discovered gold at Sutter's Mill, and that his discovery turned into a frenzied westward dash for gold and glory in 1849, bestowing the name 49ers upon those early miners. Yet how many of us recall that Marshall actually found gold in the beginning of 1848 when 'Alta California' was still a Mexican Territory?

There is so much more to the story of California and its Gold Rush than most of us remember, and many of the details and developments are lost to our memory; where did the miners come from? Where did they go? Who really struck it rich? What are the lasting effects? What about the women, natives, and foreigners? And many other details as important as the veins of gold running through the Sierra Nevada goldfields. 

If you are interested in gritty details and full fledged history, check back to our blog over the coming weeks and discover some of the forgotten treasures of the California Gold Rush.