California Trail during the Gold Rush (1848–1855)

1. Gold discovered at Sutter’s Mill

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

   • AP News
   • Britannica

2. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ends the war

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

   • National Archives
   • Britannica

3. Treaty proclaimed; California now U.S. territory

   Jul 4, 1848Labels: Treaty proclamation, United States, California territory

   • National Archives

4. Polk’s annual message publicizes the gold find

   Dec 5, 1848Labels: James K, Presidential Message, U S

   • Miller Center

5. First major Gold Rush wagon migrations begin

   Jan 1, 1849Labels: Wagon trains, California Trail, Oregon Trail

   • Britannica
   • Wikipedia

6. Cholera outbreaks hit trail camps along the Platte

   Jun 1, 1849Labels: Cholera, Platte River, Oregon California

   • Wikipedia
   • Wikipedia

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

   Sep 9, 1850Labels: California statehood, Compromise of, State government

   • US House History
   • Smithsonian

8. Fort Laramie Treaty seeks safer travel on the Plains

   Sep 17, 1851Labels: Fort Laramie, Plains nations, Plains travel

   • NPS
   • Wikipedia

9. Gold production and migration crest around 1852

   Jan 1, 1852Labels: Gold production, California miners, Migration peak

   • Britannica
   • U S Mint

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

    Jul 3, 1852Labels: San Francisco, U S, Branch mint

    • U S Mint
    • CA Parks

11. Gadsden Purchase treaty signed as routes and borders evolve

    Dec 30, 1853Labels: Gadsden Purchase, United States, Mexico

    • National Archives
    • State Historian

12. San Francisco branch mint opens to accept miners’ gold

    Apr 3, 1854Labels: San Francisco, Coinage, Miners' gold

    • U S Mint
    • CA Parks

13. By 1855, the initial Gold Rush trail-wave largely subsides

    Jan 1, 1855Labels: Gold Rush, California settlement, Trail transition

    • Britannica
    • Wikipedia