User Image

columbiastatehistoricpark

California State Parks
Primary (5 to 8 years old), Elementary (9 to 12 years old), Middle School (13 to 15 years old), High School (16 to 18 years old), Adults, Post-Secondary
Language Arts And English, Cultures, Nonfiction Informational Reading, Science, Economics, Social Studies, Visual Arts, US History, Arts, World History, Other : Gold Rush History of California

This online resource helps teachers and visitors prepare for an educational exploration of the largest collection of gold rush era brick buildings in California at Columbia State Historic Park. Teachers may want to use these photo collections as visual aids for teaching while studying the California Gold Rush.

Columbia State Historic Park is historically known as "The Gem of the Southern Mines." In spring of 1850, gold was famously discovered here. Gold mining techniques evolved with the availability of water and advances in equipment.

The abundance of placer gold in this area helped Columbia become a town of 150 businesses; once the fifth largest city in California. The strong merchant economy is known for being culturally diverse. This collection highlights some of the cultural diversity of early California.

columbiastatehistoricpark's collections

 

California Gold Rush Era Mining Technique Photos

<p>Mining techniques evolved over time with development of larger mining companies. These photos also show cultural diversity during the California Gold Rush. </p>
columbiastatehistoricpark
14
 

California Gold Rush: Gold Coins of the 1850s

<p><br /></p> <p>Paper money did not exist and was prohibited by California's constitution, in 1849. During the California Gold Rush, there were different forms of currency, such as: coins from other countries, gold dust, gold nuggets and gold slugs casted by individuals.</p>
columbiastatehistoricpark
8
 

California Gold Rush History: Columbia California's Culture Expressed Through Historic Photos

<p>The culture of Columbia expressed through a collection of historic photos. </p>
columbiastatehistoricpark
19
 

Gold Rush Mining Town, Columbia California

columbiastatehistoricpark
4
 

Gold Specimens of the Mother Lode

columbiastatehistoricpark
2
 

Historical Chinese Apothecary Exhibit of California Gold Rush Mining Town, at Columbia State Historic Park.

<p></p><p>The population of California grew from 14,000 to 223,000 between the years of 1848 to 1852. During the California Gold Rush, people from different cultures migrated from all over the world, all sharing the same hopes of creating better lives for themselves and their families. The rich cultural diversity we find in California today can be traced back to many families from the earliest days of the State of California, through cultural artifacts. Columbia State Historic Park has the largest collection of gold rush brick buildings in California. This collection of 1850s gold rush era brick buildings is a living museum of cultural artifacts dated back to the diverse merchant economy that once thrived in Columbia, CA. During the gold rush, Columbia became one of the fifth largest cities in California, with one hundred and fifty businesses during the peak of Columbia's success. The Chinese population in Columbia owned a variety of different businesses; such as dry goods, boarding houses, laundry services, restaurants, and more. Originally, the Chinese population was located on the Western edge of town. In the late 1850s and 1860s, the Chinese began purchasing buildings from French merchants. The town's history of destructive fires and the rise and fall of the merchant economy shaped the reduction of the architectural landscape visitors find today, at Columbia State Historic Park. Many of the brick buildings survived it all and have been restored for visitors to enjoy today. Visitors of Columbia State Historic Park may view the Chinese Store exhibit through windows that display a large collection of Chinese artifacts. This collection of photos provides a closer look at the inside of the Chinese exhibit. Fong Yue Po, from the Yee Phong Herb Company, Sacramento, CA, donated many artifacts used in this exhibit. </p>
columbiastatehistoricpark
16