If you have an interest in early mining history and have always wanted to explore underground, then you are in luck in California. Several places in this state have rare opportunities to safely explore old mines that were once major gold producers. Professional guides will show you can deep underground where men once worked to […]
California ghost town
Mining in Death Valley and the Discovery of a Rich California Desert
Death Valley is a very famous place located in Southeastern California near the Nevada border. We know a dozen things it is famous for: the hottest place in the continent, a mysterious place where stones move during the night, the most deserted national park, the lowest dry point in the USA among many others. This […]
Gold in the Santa Ana Mountains of Southern California
Bandits of California’s Gold Country – Outlaw Joaquin Murrieta
Depending on who you ask, Joaquin Murrieta was either a bandit or a hero. Regardless, he remains to this day a legendary figure in California during the days of the Gold Rush in the mid 19th century. The pioneer’s of California had varying points of view on Murrieta as well. He was often described as […]
Gold Mining in the San Gabriel Mountains of California
The San Gabriel River was one of the most popular gold prospecting sites in California. The river played an important role during the Californian gold rush, although it was far removed from the rush that occurred in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Sadly, the creation of the San Gabriel National Monument has made any type of […]
Metal Detecting in California – Coins, Relics & Buried Treasure
California is a metal detecting paradise. The state has a rich history and presents an opportunity for just about anyone to discover something valuable regardless of where you live in the state. For treasure hunters, California has it all. Let’s take a look at some options for places to go metal detecting in California. […]
San Andreas: A California Mining Town with Huge Gold Nuggets
The town of San Andreas California was founded in the winter of 1848 by Mexican miners that discovered gold in rich gravel deposits. The small town was most likely named in honor of Saint Andrew. It was on his day, November 30th of that founding year that the first mass was celebrated in the region. […]
Weaverville, California: Gold Miners Rush to the Trinity Alps
In the foot of the California Trinity Alps lies the historic Gold Rush town of Weaverville, California. The story of Weaverville is like so many other mining towns in California gold country. The town went through its shares of ups and downs, booms and busts, robberies and gangs, settlement and mining activities. In the end, […]
Early Mining History of Grass Valley, California
The discovery of the wealth buried in the hills and valleys of Grass Valley, California, is said to come from story of one lost cow. A legend has it that a miner discovered the gold in Grass Valley while searching for his lost cow. While searching for his animal, he stubbed his toe, dislodging a […]
3 Old Ghost Towns in California you Must Visit
It’s no surprise that California would have some interesting ghost towns, given the discovery of gold at Sutter’s Mill in 1848, and the subsequent gold rush. Let’s take a look at three of the best ghost towns in California. BODIE The western slopes of the Sierra Nevada range began to see a decline […]
American River: The Start of the California Gold Rush
The discovery of gold on the American river is credited with triggering the first gold rush to in California. The first gold discovery in California was by James Marshall at the Sutter’s Mill on the banks of the South Fork of the American River in 1848. The spread of word of this discovery brought thousands […]
The Rich Gold Mining Regions of California
Gold mining in California had a huge impact on the rapid development of the state and creation of wealth. Although production has diminished over the years, current exploration across the state is a pointer to the extensive gold mineralization that can still be exploited by prospectors. A Brief Overview of Gold in California It is […]