"Boys, I believe I have found a gold mine."
12/10/2001
California and the American West were transformed forever in 1848 when gold was found at Sutter's Mill in northern California. Overnight, sleepy towns became bustling commercial centers serving the new influx of emigrants seeking their golden fortune. The Huntington Library has developed an excellent Web site presenting their fascinating Gold Rush collection. Well organized and easy to navigate, "Land of Golden Dreams" draws a picture of this unique event using a wide array of original materials such as diaries, letters, broadsides, and exquisite drawings. Each of the images in the site link to full size images often accompanied by transcripts of manuscript materials. In exploring this site, the viewer comes to appreciate the full impact of the Gold Rush on many aspects of American society such as communication and transportation.