California Gold Rush Collection

Sutters Mill, site of the first gold discovery in California
Sutters Mill replica on the American River, where the Gold Rush began, Coloma, California. Digital photograph

Panning for gold, California
Reenactor panning for gold on the American River, where the Gold Rush started, Coloma, California. Digital photograph

GLAT2A-00018
Boat landing at the Chagres River, Panama, a seaport during the California Gold Rush. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

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Prospectors panning for gold in the California Gold Rush. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th century illustration

Prospectors in camp during the California Gold Rush, 1850s
NWI4712525 Prospectors in camp during the California Gold Rush, 1850s.; (add.info.: Prospectors in camp during the California Gold Rush, 1850s.); Photo © North Wind Pictures.

Chinese immigrant prospectors' camp in the California Gold Rush, 1850s
NWI4712517 Chinese immigrant prospectors' camp in the California Gold Rush, 1850s.; (add.info.: Chinese immigrant prospectors' camp in the California Gold Rush)

Street View in San Francisco, from a sketch by a correspondent, 1850. Creator: Unknown
Street View in San Francisco, from a sketch by a correspondent, 1850. The California Gold Rush brought a flood of "forty-niners" to San Francisco

Lump of Gold from California - value £500, 1850. Creator: Unknown
Lump of Gold from California - value £500, 1850. This "big lump" of gold is pronounced by competent judges to be not only the largest, but the finest specimen yet brought to England

David Colbreth Broderick of California, between 1855 and 1865. Creator: Unknown
Hon. David C. Broderick of Cal. between 1855 and 1865. [Lawyer and politician. Moved to San Francisco during the California Gold Rush of 1849

Scene on the Branch of the Sacramento in 1597, illustration from California
NBY335554 Scene on the Branch of the Sacramento in 1597, illustration from California, its past history, its present position, its future prospects by G.A

San Francisco, 1849 (colour litho)
PNP246169 San Francisco, 1849 (colour litho) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; Peter Newark American Pictures; American, out of copyright

Gold prospectors using a long tom sluice at Spanish Flat, California
PNP246270 Gold prospectors using a long tom sluice at Spanish Flat, California, 1852 (b/w photo) by American Photographer

Typical Forty-Niners, 1849 (b / w photo)
PNP246167 Typical Forty-Niners, 1849 (b/w photo) by American Photographer, (19th century); Private Collection; Peter Newark American Pictures; American, out of copyright

James W. Marshall (1810-85) (b / w photo)
PNP246178 James W. Marshall (1810-85) (b/w photo) by American Photographer, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Chinese Immigrants working on the gold fields, 1849 (coloured engraving)
PNP246171 Chinese Immigrants working on the gold fields, 1849 (coloured engraving) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; Peter Newark American Pictures; American, out of copyright

California News, 1849 (colour litho)
PNP246161 California News, 1849 (colour litho) by Mount, William Sidney (1807-68); Private Collection; Peter Newark American Pictures; American, out of copyright

The Independent Gold Hunter, 1849 (colour litho)
PNP246160 The Independent Gold Hunter, 1849 (colour litho) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; Peter Newark American Pictures; American, out of copyright

California, 1858 (marble)
3493116 California, 1858 (marble) by Powers, Hiram (1805-73); 180.3 high cm; Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA; (add.info)

Panning for gold in California (b / w photo)
PNP246279 Panning for gold in California (b/w photo) by American Photographer, (19th century); Private Collection; Peter Newark American Pictures; American, out of copyright

Clipper Ship Poster, 1851 (coloured engraving)
PNP246173 Clipper Ship Poster, 1851 (coloured engraving) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Hopeful gold prospectors, 1849 (b / w photo)
PNP246166 Hopeful gold prospectors, 1849 (b/w photo) by American Photographer, (19th century); Private Collection; Peter Newark American Pictures; American, out of copyright

Irish prospectors washing for gold, 1849 (b / w photo)
PNP246165 Irish prospectors washing for gold, 1849 (b/w photo) by American Photographer, (19th century); Private Collection; Peter Newark American Pictures; American, out of copyright

Bret Harte, American short story writer and poet (engraving)
3647985 Bret Harte, American short story writer and poet (engraving) by German School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Bret Harte (1836-1902), American short story writer and poet

Diary entry of gold prospector, 1848 (pen & ink on paper)
PNP246172 Diary entry of gold prospector, 1848 (pen & ink on paper) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Henry Bigler)

Clipper Ship Poster, 1849 (print)
PNP246163 Clipper Ship Poster, 1849 (print) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: poster on the Josephine)

Prospectors relaxing in the camp, 1849 (coloured engraving)
PNP246158 Prospectors relaxing in the camp, 1849 (coloured engraving) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; Peter Newark Western Americana; American, out of copyright

Bank in San Francisco, c. 1860 (coloured engraving)
PNP246280 Bank in San Francisco, c.1860 (coloured engraving) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

View of San Francisco, 1848 (coloured engraving)
PNP246177 View of San Francisco, 1848 (coloured engraving) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; Peter Newark Western Americana; American, out of copyright

John Sutter (1803-80) 1866 (oil on canvas)
PNP246176 John Sutter (1803-80) 1866 (oil on canvas) by Buchser, Frank (1828-90); Private Collection; (add.info.: gold was first discovered on Johns land, by James W)

Sutters Fort, 1849 (coloured engraving)
PNP246175 Sutters Fort, 1849 (coloured engraving) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: became Sacramento after impact of gold rush; possibly the site where the gold was)

Sutters Mill, 1848 (coloured engraving)
PNP246174 Sutters Mill, 1848 (coloured engraving) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: where the gold was first found in 1848;)

Californian Newspaper Report on gold mines, 1848 (litho)
PNP246179 Californian Newspaper Report on gold mines, 1848 (litho) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

San Francisco, before the discovery of gold, c. 1846-47 (colour litho)
PNP246170 San Francisco, before the discovery of gold, c.1846-47 (colour litho) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; Peter Newark American Pictures; American, out of copyright

View of San Francisco, California, from Telegraph Hill, April 1850 (colour litho)
PNP246168 View of San Francisco, California, from Telegraph Hill, April 1850 (colour litho) by McMurtrie, William Birch (1812-72); Private Collection; (add.info.: published by N)

Prospectors in camp, Sierra Nevada, 1849 (b / w photo)
PNP246164 Prospectors in camp, Sierra Nevada, 1849 (b/w photo) by American Photographer, (19th century); Private Collection; Peter Newark Western Americana; American, out of copyright

California News, ca. 1850. Creator: Gabriel Harrison
California News, ca. 1850

California Gold Rush prospectors
California prospectors washing gravel in a stream, looking for gold. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Gold Mining Techniques Panning Sluicing Excavation
Gold mining during the California Gold Rush of 1848 - 1855. The picture shows different mining techniques including panning, sluicing, and excavation with water jets

Hydraulic Mining During The Gold Rush
Hydraulic mining at French Corral, the first historic mining camp to appear along the San Juan Ridge, during the California Gold Rush era, circa 1849. (Photo by Kean Collection/Getty Images)

Clipper ship loading supplies for the California gold fields
Clipper ship R.B. Forbes in Boston, taking on cargo for California, 1851. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

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Tunnel in a California mine, 1850s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

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California Gold Rush miners in a gambling saloon playing faro. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

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Henry Biglers diary entry marking James Marshalls gold discovery at Sutters Mill, California, 1848. Woodcut reproduction with a watercolor wash

Prospector in the California Gold Rush
California prospector hoping to strike it rich. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th century illustration

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Statue of James Marshall, whose discovery of gold on the American River started the California Gold Rush, Coloma, California. Digital photograph

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Sutters Fort in the 1840s when it became the center of the California Gold Rush. Hand-colored engraving of a 19th-century illustration

Interior Of Tunnel In California Gold Mine
Interior of a tunnel of a gold mine during the California Gold Rush era, circa 1849. (Photo by Kean Collection/Getty Images)

Miners During The California Gold Rush
Miners travelling to find new diggings during the California Gold Rush era, 1849. (Photo by Kean Collection/Getty Images)

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"California Gold Rush: Unearthing a Treasure Trove of Dreams and Desperation" Step back in time to Sutter's Mill, the historic site where the first glimmers of gold were discovered, igniting the legendary California Gold Rush. Panning for gold became an obsession as hopeful prospectors flocked to the golden state, driven by dreams of unimaginable wealth. EVNT2A-00012 captures a moment frozen in time - David Colbreth Broderick, a prominent figure in California during 1855-1865. The creator remains unknown, but their artwork serves as a reminder of the influential individuals who shaped this era. Imagine standing on the banks of Sacramento River in 1597, witnessing scenes that would soon be transformed by human greed and ambition. This illustration from California transports us to an untouched landscape before it was forever altered by gold fever. San Francisco burst into vibrant life with its colorful lithograph capturing its bustling streets during 1849. The city became synonymous with opportunity and adventure as thousands arrived seeking fortune amidst chaotic times. Gold prospectors tirelessly worked at Spanish Flat using long tom sluices - their determination evident even through black-and-white photographs like Typical Forty-Niners from 1849 featuring hardy souls braving harsh conditions for a chance at striking it rich. James W. Marshall's portrait reminds us of his pivotal role as he stumbled upon those precious flakes at Sutter's Mill – forever changing history with one accidental discovery that sparked mass migration westward. Chinese immigrants played an integral part in shaping California's mining industry; colored engravings depict them diligently working alongside other miners under challenging circumstances during 1849. The thirst for news spread rapidly throughout this transformative period; California News showcases how information flowed through color lithographs capturing society's insatiable appetite for updates on gold discoveries and fortunes won or lost.