The American Gold Rush has been mythologized into one of the country’s most iconic tales — a chaotic era of grit, greed, and glittering opportunity. But like most pieces of American folklore, the ...

DATES BACK TO 178 YEARS THIS WEEK, WHEN JAMES MARSHALL FOUND FLECKS OF GOLD ALONG THE SOUTH FORK OF THE AMERICAN RIVER. JANUARY 24TH, 1848. HE'S STANDING DOWN THERE, LOOKS DOWN AT HIS FEET, AND ...

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, ...

This small piece of yellow metal is believed to be the first piece of gold discovered in 1848 at Sutter's Mill in California, launching the gold rush. National Museum of American History It is a tiny ...