California Gold Country

Highway 49, California's Gold Country

According to the back of the card, "In 1848 only a few hundred settlers lived on the foothills of the western slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Then gold was discovered and within a year 90,000 '49ers had appeared. Highway 49, the Golden Chain Highway, takes you through California's Historic Gold Country as it follows the 300 mile-long area enriched by a giant vein of gold called the Mother Lode."

At the time gold was discovered (during the Mexican-American War), California was occupied by the U.S. government, but technically part of Mexico. Neither country really had control over the territory and there were no formal laws or enforcement in place - so the gold seekers were free to stake claims and take all the gold they could get their hands on. Not only Americans, but also people from Hawaii, Latin America, Europe, and even Asia (primarily China), came to prospect for gold.

Thanks Lindsey for this card. :)

Definitive in the old postcard rate of 29¢, showing the herb lavender (Lavendula spp.)