Describes the nineteenth century American gold rush, and includes information on gold rush "boomtowns," relations between Native Americans and gold rush pioneers, and the importance of the gold rush on American history.

What was the gold rush? -- Striking gold -- Gold fever -- Rushing west -- Working a claim -- A miner's week -- Striking it rich (or not) -- Law and order -- Boomtowns -- Mining gets harder -- How the gold rush changed America -- Timelines.