California Gold Rush (1848–1855)

1. Gold discovered at Sutter’s Mill

   Jan 24, 1848Labels: James W, Sutter's Mill, Coloma

   • Smithsonian

2. U.S.–Mexico treaty transfers California to U.S.

   Feb 2, 1848Labels: Treaty of, Mexico, United States

   • Natl Archives
   • Britannica

3. Treaty ends war and cedes California

   Feb 2, 1848Labels: Treaty of, United States, Mexico

   • National Archives
   • Britannica

4. First newspaper report spreads gold news

   Mar 15, 1848Labels: The Californian, San Francisco, newspaper

   • CA Conservation

5. President Polk publicly confirms California gold

   Dec 5, 1848Labels: James K, U S

   • NPS
   • Christie s

6. Treaty is proclaimed; U.S. sovereignty formalized

   Jul 4, 1848Labels: James K, Treaty proclamation, U S

   • Presidency
   • Natl Archives

7. Mass migration of “Forty-Niners” begins

   Apr 1, 1849Labels: Forty-Niners, overland trails, sea routes

   • NPS
   • Britannica

8. Polk publicly confirms California gold to Congress

   Dec 5, 1848Labels: James K, U S, presidential message

   • Christie s

9. California constitutional convention meets in Monterey

   Sep 1, 1849Labels: California Constitutional, Monterey, state delegates

   • CA Secretary of

10. Pacific Mail steamer arrives with hundreds of gold seekers

    Feb 28, 1849Labels: Steamship California, Pacific Mail, San Francisco

    • Maritime Heritage

11. California Constitution signed by delegates

    Oct 13, 1849Labels: California Constitution, state delegates

    • CA Secretary of

12. California holds constitutional convention in Monterey

    Sep 1, 1849Labels: Monterey, Colton Hall, Constitutional Convention

    • CA Archives

13. Foreign Miners’ Tax imposes $20 monthly fee

    Apr 13, 1850Labels: Foreign Miners', California legislature

    • Google Arts Culture
    • Wikipedia

14. California Constitution is signed

    Oct 13, 1849Labels: California Constitution, Constitution signing, statehood preparation

    • CA Archives

15. California imposes Foreign Miners’ Tax

    Jan 1, 1850Labels: Foreign Miners', California legislature, miners

    • OAC Overview

16. U.S. Assay Office issues federal gold coinage

    Jan 1, 1851Labels: U S, Augustus Humbert, 50 slug

    • Smithsonian
    • Smithsonian Mag

17. California admitted as the 31st U.S. state

    Sep 9, 1850Labels: California statehood, U S, Compromise of

    • Britannica

18. San Francisco vigilantes organize amid boomtown crime

    Jun 9, 1851Labels: San Francisco

    • Library of Congress
    • SF Museum

19. California Land Act creates land-claims commission

    Mar 3, 1851Labels: California Land, Land Commission, Californios

    • Wikipedia
    • Natl Archives

20. Wells Fargo founded to move gold and payments

    Mar 18, 1852Labels: Wells Fargo, Henry Wells, William Fargo

    • Cambridge Core
    • History com

21. San Francisco forms 1851 Committee of Vigilance

    Jun 9, 1851Labels: Committee of, San Francisco, vigilantes

    • SF Museum

22. Hydraulic mining spreads, scaling up production

    Jan 1, 1853Labels: Hydraulic mining, mining companies

    • PBS
    • Wikipedia

23. Congress authorizes a U.S. branch mint in San Francisco

    Jul 3, 1852Labels: U S, San Francisco, Congress

    • CA Parks

24. San Francisco Mint opens and begins coinage

    Apr 1, 1854Labels: San Francisco, U S

    • Smithsonian Mag
    • Wikipedia

25. Hydraulic mining spreads through gold camps

    Jan 1, 1853Labels: Hydraulic mining, gold camps, industrial mining

    • PBS

26. Rush matures as easy placer gold declines

    Jan 1, 1855Labels: Placer gold, industrial mining

    • Britannica
    • NPS

27. People v. Hall limits Chinese testimony in court

    Jan 1, 1854Labels: People v, California Supreme, Chinese miners

    • Wikipedia

28. San Francisco Mint opens, expanding federal gold coining

    Apr 3, 1854Labels: San Francisco, mint opening, U S

    • CA Parks

29. Gold Rush boom begins to cool by mid-1850s

    Jan 1, 1855Labels: Gold Rush, placer deposits, mid-1850s

    • Britannica
    • PBS