Gold discovery sparked a rush that rapidly swelled California’s population and economy—and brought conflict and disruption.

Sandwiched between the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 and the Civil War in 1861, the California Gold Rush is considered by many historians to be the most significant event of the first half of the ...

These historical photos from the American Gold Rush (1850s–1890s) capture a pivotal chapter in U.S. history. Rather than charts or financial records, what survives are striking images of miners, ...

It was 1848, and one James Marshall was overseeing the construction of a river flue in the little town of Coloma. The story goes that a glinting piece of something in the water caught his eye. He ...

Gold mining has been part of the American story for more than two centuries and it remains an important industry today. Everything changed in 1848 when gold was discovered in California, igniting a ...