Gold Rush
Bullion Bend Robbery: El Dorado County’s Infamous Stagecoach Robbery
The Bullion Bend Robbery was one of the most dramatic crimes in Gold Country history. On June 30, 1864, armed men stopped two Pioneer Stage Line coaches on the Placerville-Carson route near present-day Pollock Pines and made off with bullion and treasure. What makes the story especially memorable is that this was not just another...
Yankee Jims Bridge: A Walk Through Placer County History
At first glance, Yankee Jims Bridge looks like a quiet backcountry crossing suspended above the North Fork American River. But this narrow bridge in Placer County stands on a route with roots deep in California’s Gold Rush era, when the nearby mining camp of Yankee Jim’s helped turn the surrounding canyon into an important...
Yankee Jim Robinson: The Outlaw Behind a Gold Rush Town and an Enduring Legend
Long before Yankee Jims became the name of a Gold Rush town in Placer County, it was tied to a “lawless character” known as James “Yankee Jim” Robinson. While Robinson’s small chapter in Gold Rush history begins with the discovery of gold in the Yankee Jims area by 1850, his final pages paint a darker …...
Timbuctoo, CA: a once prominent town of Yuba County’s distant past
Timbuctoo, California was once a booming Gold Rush town in Yuba County—home to thousands of miners chasing fortune. Today, it’s a quiet, nearly forgotten California ghost town. Here’s what remains, its fascinating history, and how you can visit. Timbuctoo, California Quick Facts Location: Yuba County, CA Founded: 1855 Known for:...
The Butler Claim: Is There Still Immense Sums of Buried Gold?
When it comes to legends of buried gold or lost treasure, the Butler Claim is one of those tales that seems to have eternal life. Generations of treasure hunters have searched for Butler’s buried fortune since the 1850s. As of this writing, nobody has found the “immense sums” of buried gold that was left behind after Butler...
The John Marsh House: Stone, Style, and the Story of Early California
Rising from a peaceful setting east of Mount Diablo, is a picturesque landmark of California’s frontier era that encompasses more than just 3,000 acres, it also doubles as a window to the 1850s with its pristine grounds and remarkable house built with stone, style and love. The John Marsh House, affectionately known as the Stone...
The Hidden Treasures of California’s Lost Gold Caches
California’s legendary Gold Rush era wasn’t just about famous gold mines and grand discoveries, it also birthed tales of hidden caches that remain lost in time. However, these are not just wild, imaginative stories; they’re fragments of history, whispers of fortunes long buried beneath the earth, awaiting rediscovery....
Tales of California’s Lost Gold Mines
The following tales of California’s lost gold mines are part legend and part historical possibility. Whether viewed skeptically or with romantic enthusiasm, these lost California treasures capture the restless spirit of the Gold Rush era: the lure of hidden wealth, the drama of sudden discovery, and the frustration of losing it again....
Donner Summit Train Tunnels: a historical journey through abandoned train tunnels
Truckee has been fondly referred to as “the most historical square mile in California.” And, perhaps, no site represents this historical significance better than Donner Summit, where the abandoned train tunnels are located. In addition to the remarkable tunnels, China Wall and Native American petroglyphs are found in the same...
Underwater Towns of California: A look at towns buried in watery graves
Many of California’s lakes and reservoirs provide endless fun for visitors along with other vital resources like irrigation, hydroelectricity, and drinking water. Yet, beneath the waters of some of these lakes and reservoirs lie remnants of towns dating back to the Gold Rush era. In fact, in a handful of lakes and reservoirs, scuba...
