Curated OER
Chinese Laborers Build Central Pacific Railroad Trestle in the Sierra
Published in 1924, the book, "The Story of California from the Earliest Days to the Present," by Henry K. Norton, relates the lives of the Chinese who immigrated to California to participate in the gold rush. He also recounts the...
Digital History
Digital History: Western Expansion: Conclusion
A good overview of the territorial expansion and its results that occurred in the United States over the first half of the 19th century.
Varsity Tutors
Varsity Tutors: Web English Teacher: Karen Cushman
Have you ever read any of Karen Cushman's work? This site features links to lesson plans and other activities for her books.
Library of Congress
Loc: America's Story: Westward Expansion and Reform
Part of a longer time line describing the history of the American West, this section covers the period 1829 to 1859 with hyperlinks to stories and people of this time period.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Ap Us History: 1865 1898: Chinese Immigrants and Mexican Americans
Discusses the conflict with Mexican American and Chinese groups as white settlers pushed westward in the nineteenth century. Explains what brought so many Chinese immigrants to America and the roadblocks and discrimination that they had...
Curated OER
Wikipedia: National Historic Landmarks in California: Bodie Historic District
Establish in 1859, it became a Gold Rush boomtown in 1876. It is currently a State park preserved in arrested decay, neither restored nor destroyed. It is one of very few towns of this type to survive untouched.
Blackdog Media
Classic Reader: "The Outcasts of Poker Flat" by Bret Harte
Text of the short story "The Outcasts of Poker Flat" by Bret Harte, an American author who often wrote about the California Gold Rush. (Free site registration offers some additional features, e.g., the ability to insert annotations.)
Curated OER
Wikipedia: Natl Historic Landmarks in Ca: Old Sacramento Historic District
Built up after the California Gold Rush, this historic district also includes the NHL locations of the Pony Express Terminal and the Big Four House.
Curated OER
Virtual Museum 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.
Curated OER
Whites on Horesback
This CalGoldRush site discussses the triumphs and hardships of Indians during the California gold rush. Some became rich, but many were sold into slavery.
Museum of the City of San Francisco
Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco: The Miners' Ten Commandments
Written by James Hutchings in 1853, the ten commandments of miners show the life of the miner.
Museum of the City of San Francisco
Virtual Museum of San Francisco: Alvin Coffey, African American '49Er
Provides biography of an African American 49er with first hand accounts.
California Digital Library
Calisphere: Sutter's Mill
A broad selection of images featuring the Sutter's Mill can be found on this site by Calisphere. By clicking on individual images you'll find high quality photographs and image information.
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of American History: Treasures of Am. History: Western Expansion
Shown are images and descriptions of artifacts that express the challenges that the migrants, Mexicans, and Indians shared in their quest for westward expansion in the United States during the 1800s.
Curated OER
Hydraulic Mining
Provides pictures and information about hydraulic mining (using jets of water to break down gold-laden gravel banks) for gold.
Curated OER
Hydraulic mining.jpg, 0 Bytes
Provides pictures and information about hydraulic mining (using jets of water to break down gold-laden gravel banks) for gold.
Curated OER
Hart Stereoview #61, Hydraulic Mining
Provides pictures and information about hydraulic mining (using jets of water to break down gold-laden gravel banks) for gold.
Curated OER
Cover Art
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...
Curated OER
Photograph of Kit Carson
This site contains information about how people from New York and London viewed the California gold rush. From winter, 1849 issue of "The Pacific Spectator."
Curated OER
Etc: Maps Etc: Distribution of Population , 1850
A map of the United States showing the population distribution in 1850. The map is coded to show population densities ranging from under 2 inhabitants per square mile to over 90 inhabitants per square mile. The map illustrates the...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Regional Realism: Bret Harte
This is a brief biography featuring American realist author Bret Harte who drew attention to the life and sentiment of those in the West through his writings. Click on "Bret Harte Activities" for more resources.
Blackdog Media
Classic Reader: Von Kempelen and His Discovery
"Von Kempelen and His Discovery" by Edgar Allan Poe was written as a hoax to deter "forty-niners" from rushing to California in search of gold. Read the full text on this site.
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