Customer Reviews

California Gold Camps: A Geographical and Historical Dictionary of Camps, Towns, and Localities Where Gold Was Found and Mined; Wayside Stations and Trading Centers

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I paid a lot of money for this book and was terribly disappointed. It is basically just a listing of every mine/mill/gulch, etc. on record, with very little information included. One specific place I was interested in learning more about just listed the name of other authors who have mentioned the place in their writings. e.g. "Hutchings describes the area on his trip through the mines in 1855." So what? That doesn't tell me anything. It doesn't give a specific location or anything of value. In fact, very few of the listings give any detailed location information at all. (Actually, I didn't see ANY, but just wanted to give the author the benefit of the doubt in case there was actually one that DID include specific information.) Could be useful to someone who just wanted to prove to someone else, via anecdotal evidence, that a place existed. The only listings that included any detail of any length were larger places like "Nevada City," on which you could find tons of info just about any where. If you are looking for detailed information on any obscure or small mine or place, this isn't the resource you want. A waste of my $$$.

I completely disagree with the two previous reviews. I live in gold country and this book has proven itself time and time again. You buy the book and open it up...nuggets will NOT fall out onto your lap, but if you use it as a research tool and do some foot work, this book in quite valuable, atleast it has been for me.

This is a reference book for Gold camp and such in California. It gives dates and place approximately. Even so it is not worth the kind of money that I have seen being asked for a used copy. Every time I need this type of info I can look it up on the "NET" or drop by a college level library and find the info in three or four minutes. Guess I will have to keep watch at the local libraries to find a copy they are going to send to the shredder. I passed one of this book two years ago. Seems every twenty years these schools weed out the shelves for more room. Now how many folks are checking this book out all the time for info? Yeah that is what they think well the 30 year throw away is coming soon we will see who has one then. Good luck dray

ps copy the pages close to where you are located.dre