In 1848, James Marshall found gold in California. His discovery sparked a period in history called the Gold Rush. Over the next 5 years, more than 300,000 people came to California looking for gold.

Many of the people came in 1849. They were called 49ers. They were also called prospectors. The prospectors used a process called panning to look for gold. They washed gravel from streams and dirt to see if they found any gold flecks.

The 49ers were the ultimate adventurers. But very few of them actually found gold. Shop owners benefited the most from the gold rush. They sold food and supplies to the prospectors. They made a lot of money.

One of the shop owners was Levi Strauss. He came to California from Germany. He made work pants called blue jeans. The pants were strong and sturdy. The 49ers all wore them. Eventually, Levi sold his jeans all over the country and the world.

During the gold rush, California became the 31st state in the country. People built roads, schools, and churches. They built new towns.

Sadly, the Native Americans living in California suffered. They lost their land to the prospectors. They also lost their food sources and livelihood as the state became more industrial.

The gold rush in California was not the first gold rush in the U.S. Fifty years earlier, people had rushed to North Carolina to look for gold. There are always people up for an adventure. Especially an adventure that might make them rich!