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Handout
Other

The Gold Rush: Changes

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the environmental impact the changing technology of gold mining inflicted on California and the economic impact on the miners.
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Website
Oakland Museum of California

Oakland Museum of California: Gold Rush and Hydraulic Mining

For Students 9th - 10th
This page gives a brief explanation of extracting minerals by means of hydraulic mining. This was a labor intensive process that was often dangerous but necessary to find gold.
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Handout
Other

The Gold Rush: Despair

For Students 9th - 10th
This page discusses what happened to many of the gold miners when the gold ran out in California.
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Handout
Other

Gold Rush Players: Johann Augustus Sutter

For Students 9th - 10th
Chronicles the life of John Sutter who immigrated to America to find his fortune and then saw it crumble away after the discovery of gold at his mill.
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Handout
Other

Gold Rush Players: James Wilson Marshall

For Students 9th - 10th
This article provides a brief overview of the life of James Marshall, who discovered gold at Sutter's Mill in 1848.
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Primary
Museum of the City of San Francisco

Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco: Ulysses S. Grant and the Gold Rush

For Students 9th - 10th
From Ulysses S. Grant's memoirs is this description of his 1852 trip to California across Panama and his stay in San Francisco.
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Website
Curated OER

National Park Service: Death Valley National Park

For Students Pre-K - 1st
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...
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Website
Curated OER

National Park Service: Death Valley National Park

For Students Pre-K - 1st
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...
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Website
Oakland Museum of California

Gold Rush: Indian Gold Washing

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource contains information and a picture about Indian prospectors. It also contains an audio clip.
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Website
Library of Congress

Loc: California History Collection: The Discovery of Gold

For Students 9th - 10th
Contains an article on the discovery of gold in California at Sutter's Mill that resulted in the California Gold Rush.
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Handout
Other

Gold Rush Players: Joaquin Murieta

For Students 9th - 10th
Information about the notorious Joaquin Murieta, Mexican miner who became a legend after a book was written about him in 1854.
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Website
Curated OER

National Park Service: California National Historic Trail

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from the National Parks Service gives a brief history, and description of the California trail system which was used by settlers moving to California during the 1849 Gold Rush days.
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Website
Oakland Museum of California

Gold Rush: Gold Fever! Prospecting

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource presents information about prospecting. You will learn about the history and see pictures on how it was done.
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Online Course
Schools of California Online Resources for Education

Score: Gold Mountain Webquest

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
At this site from the Schools of California Online Resources for Education, students will travel back in time as Chinese Immigrants in this detailed WebQuest. By using the resources and links given, students will file a job profile,...
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Primary
Museum of the City of San Francisco

Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco: Sherman and the Discovery of Gold

For Students 9th - 10th
An account by William Tecumseh Sherman about the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill.
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Website
Ducksters

Ducksters: California State History for Kids

For Students 1st - 9th
Did you know California's history included early explorers, Native Americans, the Gold Rush, and the Bear Republic? Learn about the history and timeline of the state of California on this site.
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Handout
Oakland Museum of California

Gold Rush: Entertainment

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
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Handout
Sacramento Bee

Gold Rush: Streams Poisoned by Mercury

For Students 9th - 10th
This CalGoldRush site discusses the damage mercury used in gold mining has done to California's environment
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Website
Books in the Classroom

Carol Hurst's Children's Literature Site: In Plain Sight

For Students 3rd - 5th
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...
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Website
The History Cat

The History Cat: Westward Expansion

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
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Handout
PBS

New Perspectives on the West: James Wilson Marshall (1810 1885)

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief biography of James Marshall who discovered gold at Sutter's Mill in 1848, which led to the California Gold Rush.
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Handout
Sacramento Bee

The Sacramento Bee: Timeline of John Sutter

For Students 9th - 10th
John Sutter was the unwitting lynchpin in the California Gold Rush. Read the time line of events that show how he suffered for that discovery.
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Primary
Other

Ailello Studios: The Land of Glittering Dreams

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn some interesting facts about the California Gold Rush through images, personal stories and other writings.
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Handout
State Library of North Carolina

N Cpedia: Gold Mining in the Uwharries

For Students 9th - 10th
In the early decades of the 1800s, the southern Piedmont's gold mines attracted prospectors, investors, and miners. Tar Heel gold had first been found in 1799 on John Reed's farm in Cabarrus County, several miles west of the Uwharrie...

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