We’re Going to See the Elephant! Gold Country or Bust!
Who? Single men, leaving families behind Families Wealthy people Poor people Foreigners Americans Pioneers Adventurers
Why? Economic: Gold Fever! Adventure: Life in the East had become dull. Pioneer Spirit: Do we still have it?
How? Panama: Steamship Around the Horn: Sailing ship Overland: Covered Wagon
Via Panama Steamships that traveled through the Isthmus of Panama... –Quickest route –Most expensive –Landed in SF Bay, still 150 miles from gold fields *Travelers arrived broke and sick.
Around the Horn Sailing ships that traveled around South America and Cape Horn... –17 Thousand miles –Took 5-7 months to get to SF Bay –Less expensive than going via Panama –Landed in SF Bay, still 150 miles from gold fields *Travelers arrived exhausted, sick, without enough money or supplies to continue on.
Overland Trail Covered wagons that traveled in a wagon train... –Danger of Indians and other robbers –Danger of diseases such as cholera –Took 6-8 months –Many deaths *Travelers arrived exhausted and weak.
Types of Gold Deposits Placer: Areas of free gold Lode: Found buried deep underground
Types of Mining Panning: Long Tom: Also called Rocking the Cradle, Rocker River Mining: