Other
Alaska Department of Education: Alaska's Gold
This comprehensive resource looks at the discovery of gold through the use of nonconventional means. Students read diaries, newspapers, maps, photographs, and government documents and view things people used in their everyday lives.
Museum of the City of San Francisco
Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco: Sherman and the Discovery of Gold
An account by William Tecumseh Sherman about the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill.
Library of Congress
Loc: California History Collection: The Discovery of Gold
Contains an article on the discovery of gold in California at Sutter's Mill that resulted in the California Gold Rush.
Oakland Museum of California
Gold Rush: Entertainment
Many individuals made money during the gold rush without finding any gold. This resource dicusses how many actors and musicians made money entertaining lonely miners. There is also an audio version.
Oakland Museum of California
California's Untold Stories: Silver and Gold
This site provides a virtual tour of the mining of silver and gold in California through excellent photos and facts.
Oakland Museum of California
California's Untold Stories: Natives and Immigrants
This site provides a tour through the history of natives and immigrants to the California Gold Rush area, including African American, California Indian, Chinese, and Latino.
Books in the Classroom
Carol Hurst's Children's Literature Site: In Plain Sight
Carol Hurst uses one of her own books, "In Plain Sight," as a basis for this lesson plan on the California gold rush. In addition to discussion questions about the book, Hurst provides ten activities designed to help students explore...
Orca Book Publishers
Orca Book Publishers: Jo's Journey Teaching Guide [Pdf]
Jo's Journey, a novel by Nikki Tate, follows the adventures of an orphan girl named Jo as she heads north disguised as a boy to look for gold during the Caribou Gold Rush. This teacher's guide includes a book summary, teaching ideas and...
White Pine Pictures
White Pine Pictures: First Lady of the Yukon
Martha Black was an adventurous woman who left a comfortable life in Chicago to live in the Yukon during the Gold Rush. She became the second female Member of Parliament in Canada. This site describes the making of a television...
Other
California State Military Museum: Mariposa Indian War, 1850 1851
The California State Military Museum has captured the history of the Indian Wars. This is a synopsis of the Mariposa Indian War which occurred between 1850-1851, the best known battle during the Gold Rush years.
CZBrats
Goldrush Days
This page is an article entitled "Gold Rush Days On The Isthmus", by Willie K. Friar, from "The Panama Canal Review" (Fall 1971). Read about this significant event in Panamanian history, which falls into the "Independence" years...
Royal British Colombia Museum (Canada)
Italians in British Columbia
The Royal British Columbia Museum discusses the role that Italians played in shaping the province. Italian workers were instrumental with the gold rush, with coal mines and with the construction of the railroad. The Italian Community...
Library of Congress
Loc: America's Story: Arizona Became a New Territory
This 2-page article provides information about how Arizona became a new territory on February 24, 1863, and the corresponding silver and gold rush that encompassed the area.
Curated OER
National Park Service: Death Valley National Park
Death Valley acquired its name during the California Gold Rush, but the Timbisha Shoshone inhabited the region long before. The severely hot and dry national park is packed with history, culture, incredible geology, and, believe it or...
Curated OER
National Park Service: Death Valley National Park
Death Valley acquired its name during the California Gold Rush, but the Timbisha Shoshone inhabited the region long before. The severely hot and dry national park is packed with history, culture, incredible geology, and, believe it or...
The History Cat
The History Cat: Westward Expansion
Here you can learn about the Oregon Trail, Donner Party, the California Gold Rush, and life as a pioneer through text, images, video, and quotes.
Museum of the City of San Francisco
Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco: San Francisco History
This site from the Museum of San Francisco provides a list of links to events that happened in San Francisco from 1846-1864 including many links about the Gold Rush.
PBS
Pbs: Virtual Field Trip: Cherokee Nation
The Cherokee Nation virtual field trip affords an in-depth look at the lives of the Cherokee Indians, from their first encounters with Europeans to events, such as the Gold Rush and the signing of the Indian Removal Act by Andrew...
Oakland Museum of California
Gold Rush: Indian Gold Washing
This resource contains information and a picture about Indian prospectors. It also contains an audio clip.
Oakland Museum of California
Gold Rush: Prospecting: Chinese Placer Mining
This resource presents information about Chinese miners in California and the prejudice they suffered.
Other
The Gold Rush: The Journey
Read about the routes followed by those seeking the riches of California. Find out the advantages and hazards of each route.
Museum of the City of San Francisco
Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco: Ulysses S. Grant and the Gold Rush
From Ulysses S. Grant's memoirs is this description of his 1852 trip to California across Panama and his stay in San Francisco.