By
the winter of 1848, the rumor of the discovery of gold in California had trickled
to the East Coast.
Thousands of Americans dropped what they were doing and prepared to make the journey to California. With all of this optimism, it was easy to understand why thousands decided to take the journey west. The talk of gold rang through every house, farm, cabin, and harbor across the country and the globe.
As the dream of easily obtaining vast amounts of gold and wealth captured the nation, Americans and foreigners alike began to lose perspective. These individuals were simple prey for a growing number of entrepreneurs and swindlers. Thousands of individuals took amazing risks to reach California in 1849 and the 1850s, desperately hoping to obtain the fortunes they dreamt about. They came from the east coast of America, Europe, China, South America and the South Pacific.
Most made the perilous journey via a 2,000-mile trek across the American outback or the alternate sea route. Favored by gold seekers from the eastern states, the sea route had its fair share of miserable qualities. Seasickness was rampant. The food was full of bugs, or worse - rancid. Water was stored for months in the ships' holds and was almost impossible to drink. And then there was the boredom - months and months at sea with nothing to do. Others seeking to quicken the sea journey opted for a route across Panama. Although a logical shortcut, this route was too dangerous and difficult, forcing 49ers to traverse the rain forests of Central America, and find ships to ferry them to San Francisco once they reached the coast. Most waited for weeks, even months, for ships in over-crowded, disease-infested towns.
By the early 1850s, over 100,000
gold seekers had reached the "golden state," with close to 50,000 soon following
them. During the 1850s, the city of San Francisco, previously only populated
by 600 people, averaged 30 new houses per day. A plot of San Francisco real
estate that cost $16 in 1847, sold for $45,000 just 18 months later. In the
same period, nearly a half-billion dollars worth of gold passed through the
city. In essence, San Francisco was virtually created by the gold rush. With
its natural harbor, it became the focal point of sea 
commerce
for the entire western United States. On any given day, literally dozens of
ships could be seen moored in San Francisco harbor. These ships carried much
of California's gold on the initial leg of a journey east to destinations
such as New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Baltimore and even London. It was
this gold that helped fuel America's economy and lure ever greater numbers
of prospectors west. Of course, not all of the gold-laden ships completed
the journey eastward.
The accounts of economic prosperity during the California Gold Rush are numerous, but tales of 49ers who wound up economically broken are far more realistic. Many miners simply gave up and went back East. They gave up on the dream and decided the simple farm or village life was better than the desperation they had discovered in California. Many of these disappointed prospectors endured the long sea journey home.
