Describes the events surrounding the discovery of gold in California, the huge migration it brought to the area, and the lifestyles of miners and mining towns.

"Describes the events of the nineteenth century California gold rush. Reader's choices reveal historical details of how miners traveled, how they looked for gold, and their impact on California's history"--Provided by publisher.

"People often dream of becoming rich. However, in the mid-1800s, people really could become rich overnight. The California gold rush brought many men to the area. These prospectors searched for gold. Some became lucky, while others lost all of their life savings. This book describes the history of the California gold rush and highlights what life was like for the men, women, and children who lived through the era." --

Introduces young readers to the history of the California gold rush, describing the journey to California, the process of panning for gold, and the fortunes that this gold brought many different people.

"On January 24, 1848, gold was discovered near Sutter's Mill in California. Soon after the discovery, thousands of people moved west. Once in California, miners didn not always find gold. They had to spend hours looking for it in bone-chilling water. Do you thing this was worth it? Would you leave your family to try to strike it rich? What would you do?" --

"Find out what it was like to be a kid during the California Gold Rush."--Provided by publisher.

Discusses the California Gold Rush in American history, including the first discovery of gold, the 49ers, and how the gold rush changed the landscape of America.