Traveling California's Gold Rush Country [Paperback]

Leslie A. Kelly (Author)

Book Description

Series: Historic Trail Guide Series | Publication Date: October 1, 1997

In 1849, 90,000 miners arrived in California with dreams of striking it rich. Today, in towns such as Sonora, Sutter Creek, and Placerville near the Sierra Nevadas, modern gold-seekers and history buffs can retrace the footsteps of the '49ers. This comprehensive guidebook to the gold rush country shares a wealth of information mined from years of research and the author's extensive travels throughout the region. Featuring complete descriptions and accurate directions to historic sites, historic inns, and fine dining, it's a must-have guide for anyone planning to join the sesquicentennial (1990-2000) of California's gold rush.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"Monday 24th this day some kind of mettle was found in the tail race that looks like goald first discovered by James Martial the Boss of the Mill," wrote Henry Bigler in his diary on Jan. 24, 1848, from Sutter's Mill, located on the edge of the American River. By 1858, more than 600,000 women and children from as far away as China and Australia had become part of California's Gold Rush. Nearly 150 years later, nuggets of gold fever can still be found in California's Gold Rush country, sparkling across 600 miles--from Mariposa County in the Sierra Nevada to Humboldt County on the Pacific Ocean. Detailed maps, historical anecdotes, and gold-panning tips make this book an ideal travel partner, whether you have one day or one month to explore this area's feverish past. Part of the area's allure lies in the fact that the Mother Lode (a 100-mile-long vein of gold-bearing quartz believed to be buried somewhere in the Sierra Nevada) has never been found.

From the Back Cover

Today, modern explorers can follow in the footsteps of the hundreds of thousands of 49ers who swarmed into the Golden state, taming the Sierras and catalyzing California's entry in to the union as the 31st state, with Traveling California's Gold Rush Country.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Falcon; 1st edition (October 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560444843
• ISBN-13: 978-1560444848
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #173,758 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very readable and thorough guide to CA's Gold Country, July 31, 2000

By 

Darlene Brown (Groveland, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Traveling California's Gold Rush Country (Paperback)

Most travel guides are thorough, but not terribly interesting reading. Not only does the guide provide good travel information, there are some great stories as well. Overall good reading.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't tour without it!!, August 4, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Traveling California's Gold Rush Country (Paperback)

If you're touring gold rush country this guide is an absolute MUST. Unlike a previous reviewer's comment, I found directions to be clear, accurate and very well laid-out. The book is loaded with all kinds of information (entertainingly written), much of which I didn't find in any of my other 3(!) California guide books. Made traveling up beautiful, historical 49 that much more fun and interesting -- not to mention a breeze. ENJOY!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very readable, enjoyable and useful!, June 29, 2000

By 

Darlene Brown (Groveland, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Traveling California's Gold Rush Country (Paperback)

Many travel books, while useful, are dull and dry and very boring reading. This book is not only very useful, it's very readable - I read it cover to cover and enjoyed it all. Great gift book too.