Gold Rush Collection

Australian Gold Rush prospectors, 1850s
Australian prospectors panning for gold, 1850s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Leadville, a Colorado boom town, 1870s
Chestnut Street in Leadville, Colorado, during the mining boom, 1870s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

CALIFORNIA: GOLD MINING. Lithograph by Currier & Ives, 1871

CHAPLIN: GOLD RUSH. 1925. Charlie Chaplin eating his shoe in a scene from his film The Gold Rush, 1925

Sutters Mill, site of the first gold discovery in California
Sutters Mill replica on the American River, where the Gold Rush began, Coloma, California. Digital photograph

Panning for gold, California
Reenactor panning for gold on the American River, where the Gold Rush started, Coloma, California. Digital photograph

USA; California; West Coast; Jacksonville; Oregon

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USA, California, Gold Country, Grass Valley: Empire Mine State Historic Park/Gold Mine Gold Mine, Main Mine Shaft

AUSTRALIA: GOLD RUSH, 1895. A general store in the town of Coolgardie, Western Australia, 1895-1897, during the gold rush of the 1890s

SUTTERs MILL, c1850. James Marshall, prospector, standing in front of Sutters Mill, where he discovered gold, Coloma, California. Photograph, c1850

CALIFORNIA GOLDMINER, 1850. Contemporary colored engraving

EVNT2A-00012
Prospectors panning for gold in the California Gold Rush. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th century illustration

The Klondike Gold Rush - Gold seekers crossing the Chilkoot Pass during the Alaskan Gold
XEE4153670 The Klondike Gold Rush - Gold seekers crossing the Chilkoot Pass during the Alaskan Gold Rush, 1897 - The Klondike Gold Rush by Unknown Artist

A Land-Rush in the United States, the Crowd waiting to take Possession of the New Country (litho)
1063124 A Land-Rush in the United States, the Crowd waiting to take Possession of the New Country (litho) by English School

Hydraulic mining at Michigan City (later Michigan Bluff) in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California
CALIFORNIA: MINING, 1850s. Hydraulic mining at Michigan City (later Michigan Bluff) in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California. From a daguerreotype, 1850s

CHAPLIN: THE GOLD RUSH. Charlie Chaplin in a scene from The Gold Rush, 1925

Poster advertising the gold mines in California (colour engraving)
XIR164526 Poster advertising the gold mines in California (colour engraving) by French School, (19th century); Musee de la Ville de Paris, Musee Carnavalet, Paris

Virginia City, Montana, a living gold rush town in western Montana

FILMING THE GOLD RUSH. Charlie Chaplin being filmed, probably in a scene for The Gold Rush, which he also directed, 1925

USA, Rockies, Montana, Elkhorn Ghost Town

USA, Rockies, Montana, Kirkville Ghost Town near Philipsburg

USA, Rockies, Montana, Kirkville Ghost Town near Philipsburg

Chinese gold mining in California (engraving)
8644027 Chinese gold mining in California (engraving) by Australian School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Chinese gold mining in California)

Miners around their camp-fire (engraving)
8644008 Miners around their camp-fire (engraving) by Australian School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Miners around their camp-fire)

Hydraulic mining (engraving)
8644007 Hydraulic mining (engraving) by Australian School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Hydraulic mining)

Gold Escort (engraving)
8647971 Gold Escort (engraving) by Australian School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Gold Escort. Victoria)

Celebre gold deposit of Cameron, near Williams's Creek, Caribou District, British Columbia, Canada, 1866
JAB5037247 Celebre gold deposit of Cameron, near Williams's Creek, Caribou District, British Columbia, Canada, 1866. Engraving of the 19th century.; (add.info.: Celebre gold deposit of Cameron)

Gold mining and washing in British Columbia (Canada) in 1866
JAB5037245 Gold mining and washing in British Columbia (Canada) in 1866.; (add.info.: Gold mining and washing in British Columbia (Canada) in 1866.); Photo ©Jaime Abecasis.

Gold Rush: gold seeker at a dam in California (hydraulic mine), 1850 years. Colourful engraving of the 19th century
NWI4827994 Gold Rush: gold seeker at a dam in California (hydraulic mine), 1850 years. Colourful engraving of the 19th century.; (add.info.: Gold Rush)

United States, South Dakota: City of Deadwood during the Black Hills Gold Rush, 1870
NWI4967420 United States, South Dakota: City of Deadwood during the Black Hills Gold Rush, 1870. Colour engraving of the 19th century.; (add.info.: United States)

United States, State of California: Mercanti in front of the Saloon Empire during the gold rush in San Francisco, 1850
NWI4964573 United States, State of California: Mercanti in front of the Saloon Empire during the gold rush in San Francisco, 1850

Newcomers lining up for mail at the Gold Rush, San Francisco. Colour engraving of the 19th century
NWI4964504 Newcomers lining up for mail at the Gold Rush, San Francisco. Colour engraving of the 19th century.; (add.info.: Newcomers lining up for mail at the Gold Rush, San Francisco)

Gold seekers on the banks of the Rhine, 1880 (engraving)
ELD4837778 Gold seekers on the banks of the Rhine, 1880 (engraving); Private Collection; (add.info.: Gold seekers on the banks of the Rhine. Gold nuggets washed in the Rhine river, Germany)

The Klondike Gold Rush: Gold seeker climbing to the summit of Chilkoot Pass in Alaska, 1890
NWI4837894 The Klondike Gold Rush: Gold seeker climbing to the summit of Chilkoot Pass in Alaska, 1890. Colour engraving of the 19th century; (add.info.: The Klondike Gold Rush)

Latin America. Boat sailing along the banks of the Chagres River at the port of the Caribbean Sea, Panama
NWI4876243 Latin America. Boat sailing along the banks of the Chagres River at the port of the Caribbean Sea, Panama, during the California Gold Rush

Prospectors in camp during the California Gold Rush, 1850s
NWI4712525 Prospectors in camp during the California Gold Rush, 1850s.; (add.info.: Prospectors in camp during the California Gold Rush, 1850s.); Photo © North Wind Pictures.

Handbill for the extreme Clipper Ship "Rattler" to San Francisco in 1864
3031571 Handbill for the extreme Clipper Ship "Rattler" to San Francisco in 1864; Private Collection; (add.info)

Gold Rush in the United States, California: Gold Seekers with sieves in a river (1849-1850)
NWI4834372 Gold Rush in the United States, California: Gold Seekers with sieves in a river (1849-1850). Colourful engraving of the 19th century.; (add.info.: Gold Rush in the United States)

Gold-diggers working at the Gregory Quarry (founded by John H. Gregory) in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, May 1859
NWI4836783 Gold-diggers working at the Gregory Quarry (founded by John H. Gregory) in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, May 1859

Gold seekers traveling to the areas of California through the Isthmus of Panama, 1849 or 1850
NWI4836097 Gold seekers traveling to the areas of California through the Isthmus of Panama, 1849 or 1850. Colourful engraving of the 19th century.; (add.info)

Gold Rush: California gold seeker hope to achieve his goal. 19th century color engraving
NWI4837799 Gold Rush: California gold seeker hope to achieve his goal. 19th century color engraving.; (add.info.: Gold Rush: California gold seeker hope to achieve his goal)

Gold seekers in California washing gravel in a stream with a sieve. Colour engraving of the 19th century
NWI4837942 Gold seekers in California washing gravel in a stream with a sieve. Colour engraving of the 19th century; (add.info.: Gold seekers in California washing gravel in a stream with a sieve)

Gold Rush in California: Minors in a game room (casino) playing faro. Engraving of the 19th century
NWI4836970 Gold Rush in California: Minors in a game room (casino) playing faro. Engraving of the 19th century.; (add.info.: Gold Rush in California: Minors in a game room (casino) playing faro

Australian gold prospectors working their claim in the bed of a river in Turon, around 1850
NWI4835913 Australian gold prospectors working their claim in the bed of a river in Turon, around 1850. Coloured water, 19th century.; (add.info)

Gold Rush: City of Marysville, California, 1850. By the river, men are looking for gold
NWI4835497 Gold Rush: City of Marysville, California, 1850. By the river, men are looking for gold. Colouring engraving of the 19th century.; (add.info.: Gold Rush: City of Marysville, California)

Site of Sutter's Mill or James Wilson Marshall (1810-1885) American carpenter
NWI4834242 Site of Sutter's Mill or James Wilson Marshall (1810-1885) American carpenter, discovered gold in the American River of California on January 24, 1848

Australian prospectors looking for gold in a river around 1850. Coloured water, 19th century
NWI4833977 Australian prospectors looking for gold in a river around 1850. Coloured water, 19th century.; (add.info.: Australian prospectors looking for gold in a river around 1850)

The Gold Rush: Dog sleds and prospectors caught in a snow storm on the Klondike Gold Field Road (Canada) in 1898
NWI4834537 The Gold Rush: Dog sleds and prospectors caught in a snow storm on the Klondike Gold Field Road (Canada) in 1898

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The gold rush phenomenon captivated people around the world, from Australian Gold Rush prospectors in the 1850s to Leadville, a Colorado boom town in the 1870s. The allure of striking it rich drew countless individuals to venture into uncharted territories, hoping to uncover precious nuggets and change their lives forever. In California, where dreams were made and shattered alike, lithographs by Currier & Ives immortalized the chaotic scenes of gold mining in 1871. West Coast towns like Jacksonville in Oregon became bustling hubs as fortune seekers flocked to these promising lands. Even Hollywood couldn't resist the charm of this historical event. In Charlie Chaplin's iconic film "The Gold Rush" from 1925, he humorously portrayed a prospector resorting to eating his own shoe out of desperation - a comical representation of the lengths people would go for that elusive treasure. Sutters Mill holds significant importance as it marks the site where California's first gold discovery took place. It was here that James Marshall stood proudly before Sutters Mill in 1850, forever etching his name into history as an influential prospector. Panning for gold became synonymous with this era; hopeful miners meticulously sifted through riverbeds and streams with pans in hand, praying for that glimmering yellow metal to reveal itself. This laborious process symbolized both determination and uncertainty - each stroke bringing them closer or further away from their ultimate goal. A land-rush frenzy gripped America during this time period; crowds anxiously waited for their chance at staking claim on new territory. The promise of untapped riches fueled their anticipation while also highlighting how quickly fortunes could be won or lost within these newly opened frontiers. Contemporary colored engravings depicted California gold miners hard at work during this transformative era. Their perseverance amidst harsh conditions showcased not only their unwavering spirit but also shed light on the immense sacrifices made in pursuit of wealth.