The California Gold Rush: A Guide to the California Gold Rush (Paperback)

by Eugene R. Hart (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
At home or on the road, this informative book will help you explore the major events of western expansionism and lasting changes that led up to and beyond the worlds best known gold rush. Each section is packed with interesting descriptions and illustrations designed to entertain as well as add to your understanding of this era. Included are the details of crossing the continent by wagon on the most widely used land route to California in 1849. Or jump aboard a ship for a voyage by sea via the Panama or Cape Horn routes. Once in the gold fields, take in-depth look at the very oldest methods to the more recent technologies miners used to extract gold from the region known as the mother lode. A wide selection of gold rush towns that emerged during this unique period of American history have also been includedall of which you can still visit today and experience throughout the entire length of California's historical Highway 49. Designed for ages 10 and up and teachers who cover California history.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Journey by Land to California The smell of freshly crushed grass and wet earth filled the cool morning air as thousands of rattling wagons etched ruts into the rolling green vastness of the prairie. An endless blue sky highlighted the drama of the day in the spring of 1849 as mules and oxen bellowed out to their drivers, who were in turn shouting a variety of unique commands encouraging their teams to pull the heavily loaded rigs. A wagon stuck to the axle in a muddy bog from a rainstorm the night before was hardly noticed as company leaders rerouted their lineups on both sides of the trail creating new ones. A dog chased a small rodent between a wagon's iron-hooped, wooden wheels as a young woman walking with a friend commented that the eternal line of wagons looked like ships on an ocean of grass. Another emigrant riding his horse and fearful of Indians checked the grease packed barrels of the ball and cap revolver he recently purchased. The smoke of thickly cut fried bacon from a late starter drifted in the breeze. While each day blended in with the next, so continued the epic journey of the gold seeking adventurers who became known as the Forty-Niners.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Freewheel Publications (January 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0963419714
• ISBN-13: 978-0963419712
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,426,247 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well-organized, easy to understand and comprehensive, March 16, 1998

By A Customer

This book puts the reader in the shoes of those who participated in the great rush to California. Of special interest was the never before published diary of Charles Brown, how miners extracted the gold from the ground and a nice sampling of the Gold Rush towns that one can still visit today. Recommended! Especially if you are a teacher.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rich In Golden Information!, April 12, 2000

By A Customer

Good books on gold rush history are hard to come by, especially one thoughtful enough to appeal to teaching usage as well. Good work and looking forward to more from an author full of potential.