Long before the modern era, one defined by class division, wealth disparities, and crypto-disasters where the rare nuevo-riche could — and did — lose everything in a market crash that wiped out trillions of dollars in investor capital, there used to be another way to get rich quickly: Literally striking gold.
Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, gold rushes took the globe by storm, with countless miners rushing to hotspots like California, Alaska, and Idaho for a shot at making it big.
From mine construction to sifters sifting, here are 20 platinum gold rush photos snapped before a market crash could wipe out your crypto winnings.
1
“Skookum Jim Mason, the First Nations man whose gold discovery in the Klondike began a gold rush, 1896.”
2
“Klondike gold rush prospectors at the summit of Chilkoot Pass, 1890s.”
3
“Three California Rangers from 1853.”
4
“My great, great, great, great, great grandfather Samuel Phillips during the CA gold rush of the 1850's. Eventually bought a ranch with the gold he found.”
5
“Felix Pedro aka Felice Pedroni, the Italian who found gold in Alaska in 1902 and started the Fairbanks Gold Rush.”
6
“My grandfather mining in Alaska. 1910’s.”
7
“Three prospectors pose for a photograph next to their water-powered arrastra (mill) during the Colorado Gold Rush, circa 1861.”
8
A hoisting wheel in Columbia, California, date unknown. Courtesy of the Smithsonian Learning Lab.
9
“'Wives wanted' - Klondike gold rush, 1901.”
10
“Prospectors during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush in 1859.”
11
A miner pans for gold, date unknown. Courtesy of the Smithsonian Learning Lab.
12
An ore cart stationed in Columbia, California, date unknown. Courtesy of the Smithsonian Learning Lab.
13
Miners pose alongside their equipment. Date unknown. Courtesy of the Smithsonian Learning Lab.
14
Miners sift for gold. Date unknown. Courtesy of the Smithsonian Learning Lab.
15
A miner poses alongside a rocker box in Columbia, California, date unknown. Courtesy of the Smithsonian Learning Lab.
16
Miners pose alongside their tools. Date unknown. Courtesy of the Smithsonian Learning Lab.
17
The construction of the Columbia, California mines, date unknown. Courtesy of the Smithsonian Learning Lab.
18
A miner searches for gold. Date unknown. Courtesy of the Smithsonian Learning Lab.
19
A miner sifts for gold in what appears to be a river. Date unknown. Courtesy of the Smithsonian Learning Lab.
20
A miner uses a rocker box. Date unknown. Courtesy of the Smithsonian Learning Lab.
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