Gold Rush
Randsburg: the friendliest ghost town in California
California is littered with old mining towns barely hanging on to their existence, dangerously flirting with ghost town status. One location that comes to mind is Iowa Hill. This Placer County gold rush town is sadly fading away into the history books. But, unlike Iowa Hill and other towns on life support, Kern County’s Randsburg...
North Bloomfield: a charmingly preserved ghost town
History According to local lore, in 1851, after three miners discovered gold nuggets on the San Juan Ridge, one of the miners bragged about the findings at a local saloon and was unknowingly followed by other prospectors to the discovery site. Unfortunately for the followers, they didn’t find any gold and in disgust, named...
Malakoff Diggins State Park: a historical mining region with adventure and a ghost town
Park Hours of Operation The State Park is open every day from Sunrise to Sunset. The museum, the buildings and tours of the town are only open during the summer season between Memorial Day and the end of September. There is an $8 fee per vehicle during the peak season. Contact number: 530-265-2740 Directions …...
Michigan Bluff: From gold to Leland Stanford, this town was the envy of its day
This town used to be a booming place that rivaled any other town in Placer County during the gold rush era. In fact, one could make an argument for this town being the best of them all. A few homes, a cemetery, a small store and several historical markers are all that remains of this once prominent …...
The tale of St. Joseph’s Church Bell
The parish decided to raise $3500 for a church bell to be added to St. Joseph. The bell was cast in Sheffield and then delivered to Boston. It would then be shipped around the Horn to San Francisco. By boat, the bell was taken to Sacramento where it was transported via cart with 6 horses to …...
Cemeteries of the Foresthill Divide
If you like taking pictures of old cemeteries then check out the following the next time you visit the Foresthill Divide: Foresthill Protestant Historic Cemetery – The Foresthill cemetery dates back until at least 1858 which is the oldest monument dated in the cemetery. The cemetery was in response to the hard lives and harsh...
Foresthill: Where the gold rush meets quaintness
Founded In 1850, three gentlemen by the names of M. Fannan, James Fannan and R. S. Johnson built an establishment named the Forest House. These 3 traders were presumably heading into the region to look for gold as Yankee Jims, which is 3 miles north-northwest of Foresthill, had already discovered gold in 1849. Later in …...
Foresthill Divide: Where history, legendary tales and adventures await
Towns were built overnight after the discovery of gold between 1849 and 1851. This precious commodity, which turned America upside down, was flowing from the mines like the American River through the nearby hills and canyons. The early days of this region birthed many places, events and legends. Although most of the original mining...
