California Gold Rush

Panning for gold during the California Gold Rush, 1850

The California Gold Rush (1848–1855) began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter’s Mill in Coloma, California. The news of gold brought approximately 300,000 people to California from the rest of the United States and abroad. The sudden influx of gold into the money supply reinvigorated the American economy, and the sudden population increase allowed California to go rapidly to statehood, in the Compromise of 1850. Wikipedia

Learn more about the California Gold Rush through historical newspapers from our archives. Explore newspaper articles, headlines, images, and other primary sources below.

Articles and Clippings about the California Gold Rush

Story of James W. Marshall discovering gold at Sutter's Mill, starting the Gold Rush Mon, Dec 25, 1848 – 4 · New York Daily Herald (New York, New York) · Newspapers.com1848 Gold Rush news: "Continuance of the Gold Excitement; Extraordinary Condition of Affairs" Wed, Sep 27, 1848 – 4 · New York Daily Herald (New York, New York) · Newspapers.comLetter describing mining for gold and other aspects of the early days of the California Gold Rush Sat, Sep 30, 1848 – 3 · Baltimore Commercial Journal, and Lyford's Price-Current (Baltimore, Maryland) · Newspapers.com"Gold Fever" hits Hawaii during California Gold Rush, July 1848 Sat, Jul 8, 1848 – Page 3 · Polynesian (Honolulu, Honolulu, Hawaii) · Newspapers.comOpinion that California Gold Rush will have positive effects and will lead to California statehood Mon, Dec 11, 1848 – Page 2 · The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, New York) · Newspapers.comBritish newspaper is skeptical about Gold Rush; Pres. Polk's words to Congress about Gold Rush Sat, Dec 23, 1848 – 5 · The Guardian (London, Greater London, England) · Newspapers.comBritish newspaper article about the history of California Gold Rush so far, including discovery Tue, Dec 26, 1848 – 2 · Manchester Weekly Times and Examiner (Manchester, Greater Manchester, England) · Newspapers.comNewspaper article gives predictions about negative effects of the California Gold Rush, Dec. 1848 Tue, Dec 26, 1848 – 2 · Manchester Weekly Times and Examiner (Manchester, Greater Manchester, England) · Newspapers.comNewspaper reports that "Gold fever" has expanded into Chile during California Gold Rush, 1849 Sat, Jan 13, 1849 – 2 · The Hampshire Advertiser (Southampton, Hampshire, England) · Newspapers.comBritish newspaper reports on California "gold fever"; emigration to California continues, Feb 1849 Fri, Feb 23, 1849 – 2 · The Royal Cornwall Gazette, Falmouth Packet, and General Advertiser (Truro, Cornwall, England) · Newspapers.comEditorial warning about the downsides of the Gold Rush; tries to discourage people from going Wed, Feb 28, 1849 – Page 2 · The Weekly Standard (Raleigh, North Carolina) · Newspapers.comUpdates on California Gold Regions, 1849; Insufficient housing in San Francisco; Much gold found Fri, Apr 13, 1849 – 4 · The Essex County Standard, etc. (Colchester, Essex, England) · Newspapers.comNews about the California Gold Rush, 1849; Miners seeing great success Sat, Sep 22, 1849 – Page 2 · The Buffalo Daily Republic (Buffalo, New York) · Newspapers.comDescription of California gold region, theory of its formation & predictions of future conditions Sat, Nov 3, 1849 – Page 1 · Lincoln Courier (Lincolnton, North Carolina) · Newspapers.comConditions in San Francisco during Gold Rush; Gambling, drinking, sickness & death are common Sat, Jan 19, 1850 – Page 2 · Poughkeepsie Journal (Poughkeepsie, New York) · Newspapers.comCalifornia becomes a state in 1850, during Gold Rush Tue, Sep 10, 1850 – 4 · New-York Tribune (New York, New York) · Newspapers.comMan writes letter to his father encouraging him to join him in California during Gold Rush, 1850 Sat, Sep 21, 1850 – Page 1 · The Weekly Pantagraph (Bloomington, Illinois) · Newspapers.comDescription of life in California during gold rush, 1851; Lack of women and servants in California Sat, Oct 11, 1851 – Page 1 · Poughkeepsie Journal (Poughkeepsie, New York) · Newspapers.comReport of the growth of San Francisco and other areas of California during Gold Rush years, 1851 Sat, Nov 22, 1851 – 3 · The Freeman's Journal (Dublin, Dublin, Ireland) · Newspapers.com1853 ad for Wells Fargo in California says company will buy gold dust Sat, Sep 17, 1853 – 4 · The Placer Herald (Rocklin, California) · Newspapers.comLetter says amount of gold is declining in gold fields, 1853 Sat, Nov 19, 1853 – 1 · The Placer Herald (Rocklin, California) · Newspapers.comNewspaper argues that California's true wealth is agriculture, not gold, 1854 Sat, Jan 21, 1854 – Page 4 · Plymouth Advertiser (Plymouth, Ohio) · Newspapers.com