1

Migratory frenzy

Image: George Henry Burgess, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The California gold rush triggered one of the largest mass migration waves in US history, with an estimated 300,000 people moving to the West Coast in just a few years . On January 24, 1848, a carpenter called James W. Marshall found gold at a sawmill in Coloma. The news reached the East Coast in August and, in December, President James Knox Polk officially confirmed it to Congress.

As a result, by early 1849, thousands of would-be prospectors —known as the ‘49ers’— started flooding the state every day. In January 1848, San Francisco had 800 residents; by the end of 1850 it had some 25,000 , many of them living in shacks and tents. Although most of the newly arrived were Americans, the gold rush attracted people from other parts of the world like Latin America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. Thanks to this boom, California started to grow fast, building new roads, towns, churches, schools, and hospitals.

2

No place for a lady?

Image: Popular Graphic Arts, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

People in the 19th century considered the California goldfields lifestyle a bit too harsh for women, so there is not much testimony of them being involved in gold-digging . Only 700 of the 40,000 people who arrived by ship to the San Francisco Bay in 1849 were women. Some came with their husbands and families, but others were just seeking adventure.

Many of the few women living in California around this time were widows. Men frequently died in mining accidents, disputes, and diseases and the women would be left alone and in need of a job. During the gold rush, women ran profitable businesses like sewing, laundry, food preparation, and boarding houses. Others would be in high demand to work in brothels and saloons, serving drinks to the hundreds of lonely gold diggers.

3

Millionaires overnight

Image: Hans

Well, not exactly overnight, but pretty quickly. Brothers John and Daniel Murphy were two adventurous early California pioneers who got into the history books for having mined about $1.5 million —around $56 million today— worth of gold in a year. Within a very short period of time, they became prosperous men and influential figures in the area.

The town of Murphys —about 140 miles East of San Francisco— is named after them and is considered one of the oldest and most important of all the Gold Rush camps in the Golden State . Nowadays, this charming little town is a must-stop for tourists on their way to the mountains looking to travel back in time.

4

Blue Jeans become popular

Image: SwellMap, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

In 1853 a Jewish peddler called Levi Strauss arrived in California looking for sale opportunities derived from the Gold Rush. Does the name ring a bell? A couple of years later, with the help of a tailor called Jacob Davis, he invented the garment of choice for Forty-Niners and cowboys: the blue jeans . By the end of 1873, thousands of San Franciscans were wearing these iconic durable pants, and the name "Levi's" was registered as a trademark.

Although Levi Strauss didn't exactly get rich by mining gold, he found a way to earn a fortune from it. Blue jeans —originally called "waist-high overalls"— came to represent the untamed American West. Over the years, not only workers would adopt them: kids, women, and even Hollywood stars owned at least a pair. And now, over a century and a half later, blue jeans are still an international symbol of youth, freedom, and independence .

5

The first international financial crisis

Image: Zlaťáky.cz

In just a few years, the 1849-1855 Gold Rush radically transformed California, the United States, and the world. The influx of gold served as an accelerant for U.S. economic development and enabled massive investment in public buildings, schools, and the construction of a railroad across the country. However, by the mid-1850s the world economy was so interconnected that any event could cause an international crisis.

In 1857, a crash in British banks, the speculation on railroad stock, and the sinking of SS Central America —a ship transporting a huge amount of gold—, among other incidents, triggered the first international financial crisis, known as the "Panic of 1857" . As a result, the northern domestic economy took a significant hit. However, by 1859, the Panic began to level off, and the economy began to stabilize.

6

Mark Twain struck literary gold

Image: unattributed, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Did you know that one of the greatest American authors became a writer after failing as a gold miner? Samuel Clemens —a.k.a. Mark Twain—, was only one of the thousands of men who moved West during the Gold Rush in hopes of making a fortune . In 1861 he followed his brother Orion all the way to Virginia City, Nevada where he became a miner. Things didn’t go very well so he ended up working for the local newspaper, and started using the pen name by which he is remembered to this day.

Twain moved to San Francisco in 1864 and came in contact with other writers like Bret Harte and Artemus Ward. His experience in the American West inspired several of his works , such as The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County (1865) —which brought him national attention— and Roughing It (1872). Although he didn’t become rich finding gold, Twain made a substantial amount of money through his writing.

7

Who really got rich?

Image: Unsplash

As romantic as it may sound, migrating to a new land to find gold and get rich does not necessarily mean instant success. In fact, only a few made their fortune mining gold . For most of the Forty-Niners, arriving in California during the rush was synonymous with disappointment. The lucky minority that found some gold went on expensive trips or wasted their money on poor-quality alcohol and food at the saloons of the American West, becoming broke pretty quickly.

The people who actually managed to amass some wealth during the California Gold Rush were the ones who took advantage of the opportunities surrounding the growth of cities and the financial bubble . For example, entrepreneurial merchants would open businesses to satisfy the demands of the newly arrived prospectors. America’s greatest industrialists, on the other hand, became millionaires by investing in real estate or the new railroads. Besides, in the years following the rush, mining was no longer done by adventurous individuals, but by big companies with new technology.

8

A city built out of ships

Image: G.F. Nesbitt & Co., printer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

In the mid-19th century, a great number of ships arrived in California from all over the world packed with people in search of fortune. At the same time, the gold rush brought rapid growth and San Francisco soon became one of the world's great seaports, dominating shipping in the American West. These gold-seekers didn’t exactly have a return ticket, so lots of boats started to pile up on the Bay .

A few of these approximately 500 abandoned ships were sunk or buried and now can be found beneath the Embarcadero and Financial District . Others were repurposed to serve as storeships, saloons, and hotels, or their debris was used to build houses, jails, and banks. Even today, archeologists continue to discover fragments and entire ships underneath the streets of San Francisco.

9

Death Valley, a winter tragedy

Image: Marina Šurniene

Do you know where the "Death Valley" name comes from? This desert valley in the northern Mojave Desert, in Eastern California, is thought to be the hottest place on Earth. However, it was not named after its summer temps but for a winter disaster. It was a group of prospectors who got lost looking for a shortcut to the goldfields of California in the winter of 1849-1850, that gave Death Valley its grim name.

Even before the Gold Rush, California attracted settlers searching for a new life. In 1846, a group of pioneers known as the Donner Party became snowbound and nearly half of them eventually died of starvation and exposure. A few years later, although scared and forewarned by this experience, a new group ventured across the desert. While this time around the journey was not so deadly, they suffered a few mishaps that led them to nickname the area Death Valley.

10

Found gold? Have yourself a Hangtown Fry!

Image: Ivan Shemereko

According to the legend, this famous omelet cooked with bacon and topped with fried oysters was created in El Dorado Hotel in Hangtown —today’s Placerville— after a prospector claimed to have found gold. To celebrate, he demanded to be served expensive food, so the cook put together a dish with the fanciest ingredients he had at hand: eggs were delicate and therefore very valuable; bacon was shipped from the East Coast; and oysters were brought fresh from San Francisco, over 100 miles away.

Since then, the Hangtown Fry has continued to be served at many of the local restaurants . Although now you can find versions with onions, bell peppers, and spices, this iconic dish has remained practically the same as it was during the Gold Rush more than a century and a half ago. Have you tried it?

1

The Everest

Image: Martin Jernberg

James Whittaker made history as the first American to achieve one of the most difficult things in the world.

In 1963 , Whittaker, then 34 years old , became the first American to reach the summit of the highest mountain on the planet, Mount Everest , as part of the American Mount Everest Expedition led by Norman Dyhrenfurth.

Facing challenging weather and low temperatures, Seattle-born Whittaker conquered the summit of the Himalayan giant, which stands at 29,035 feet high! Can you picture yourself on such an expedition?

2

The astronauts

Image: NASA

The 1960s definitely transformed history, marking a period when humanity first traveled into outer space. The first American to reach space was Alan Shepard on May 5, 1961 . After a successful flight of 15 minutes and 22 seconds, Shepard's spacecraft splashed down safely in the Atlantic Ocean. Shepard didn’t complete an orbit of Earth on that trip, but John Glenn arrived and became the first American to orbit our planet on February 20, 1962 .

Of course, these amazing achievements were necessary for Neil Armstrong to take his historic step onto the lunar surface on July 20, 1969 , becoming the first American -and the very first human- to do so.

Want to know who was the first American woman in space ? The title went to Sally Ride , who reached outer space in 1983 .

3

The Skyscraper

Image: Pedro Lastra

Yes, skyscrapers dominate the skyline of many cities in our country today. However, there was a time when there were none. And the title of America's first skyscraper went to the Home Insurance Building in Chicago.

Designed by architect William Le Baron Jenney and completed in 1885 , it was the first to use a structural steel frame. Although iconic and unique in its time, it was demolished in 1931 to build what is now the Bank of America Building.

4

The Nobel

Image: caleb weiner

You'll be happy to know that the first Nobel Prize won by an American was in the Peace category. It was awarded to none other than Theodore Roosevelt in 1906 for his role and contribution to ending the Russo-Japanese War.

Roosevelt stood out precisely for inviting representatives from Russia and Japan to a peace conference in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, in 1905. Of course, the task was not an easy one, but Teddy was determined. His efforts ended in a historic peace agreement known worldwide as The Treaty of Portsmouth.

5

The flight

Image: History in HD

The Wright brothers ' story is one of the most famous. Coming from Dayton, Ohio , these two brothers are credited with inventing the first powered airplane and making the world's first successful flight with it.

But which of them was the first American to fly? Well, it seems Wilbur Wright, the older of the two, gave the honor to his younger brother. So, it was Orville who made history as the first to pilot the successful aircraft.

Orville piloted the first sustained flight of a powered aircraft in December 1903 near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina . His flight lasted 12 seconds and flew a distance of 120 feet. True pioneers!

6

The University

Image: Somesh Kesarla Suresh

388 years is a really long time, right? Well, that's the amount of time that has passed since the first university was founded in the territory of what would eventually become the United States of America.

We are talking about the prestigious Harvard University , born in 1636 in what was then the Massachusetts Bay Colony , with the aim of training clergy. Originally called "New College," the institution was later renamed Harvard College in honor of John Harvard , its first major benefactor.

7

The baseball team

Image: Caitlin Conner

Whether you prefer football, ice hockey, baseball, or basketball, it's undeniable that these four sports best represent our nation.

But only one has earned the title of "America's pastime." Of course, we're talking about baseball . One of the most popular sports today, it was also the earliest to establish a professional team.

The Cincinnati Red Stockings , established in 1869 , were the first professional baseball team in our country. When all the teams were still amateur, the Red Stockings became the first team with paid players, leading the way for the rest of the teams and for the eventual establishment of the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players in 1871.

8

The Flag

Image: Samuel Branch

Every independent country needs a flag to symbolize its identity and ideals. The US flag , in particular, has gone through a series of changes that show the nation's journey through history. First hoisted by George Washington on January 1, 1776 , at Prospect Hill in Somerville, Massachusetts , our first National Flag was born during the years of the Revolution .

Known as the "Continental Colors," this unofficial flag was adopted in 1775 as a symbol of the Continental Army . Its design had 13 red and white stripes , symbolizing the 13 original colonies, and the Union Jack in the upper left corner.

As the Revolutionary War progressed, the Continental Congress considered a series of changes to our flag to better represent the united colonies and their desire for independence. Thus came the "Stars and Stripes" new design on June 14, 1777 , which replaced the Union Jack with 13 white stars, initially often arranged in a circle.

9

The Oscar

Image: Mirko Fabian

If you are a movie enthusiast , this fact is probably already in your memory. And if you're not, it's still a good fact worth knowing.

The first Academy Awards ceremony was held on May 16, 1929 , and featured nominations for classic films like The Racket and Seventh Heaven , both released in 1927.

But the movie that stole the show was Wings , also from 1927 , directed by William A. Wellman and starring Clara Bow, Charles Rogers, and Richard Arlen. This silent film about WWI was the very first to win the category then known as "Outstanding Picture," which today we call "Best Picture." It was notable for its realistic aerial battles and special effects of excellent quality for its time. If you haven't seen it yet, this is your cue to do so!

10

The National Park

Image: Austin Farrington

From expansive deserts to dense forests, and from delightful beaches to impressive mountains, our country's landscapes and biodiversity are truly amazing.

Many of these natural sites have earned the title of National Parks , which guarantees their protection and conservation for the joy of locals and tourists. And while today we have many national parks to visit, there was once a first.

The very first was the great Yellowstone National Park , designated by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872 . Located in the states of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, this natural site set a precedent for the conservation of our land's natural areas. Have you already visited it?

1

Ford

Image: Ross Sokolovski

What is to say about Ford that hasn’t been said already? This omnipresent American car brand, founded by Henry Ford in 1903, is popularly known as the auto manufacturer responsible for putting America on wheels. Ford’s first car, the Model A , was assembled at a plant in Detroit.

The Model T was an affordable, reliable, and efficient vehicle . Within 10 years, half the cars in America were Model T’s. Ford created the world’s first moving assembly line for cars, which would change the industry forever. This invention allowed the company to produce one Model T in under thirty seconds.

2

Chevrolet

Image: Gary Sandoz

Another legendary brand, Chevrolet was founded in 1911, in Detroit, Michigan, by Louis Chevrolet and William C. Durant. Chevrolet introduced its first model, which was the Series C Classic Six and almost three thousand cars were sold the first year.

Chevrolet produced its one-millionth vehicle in the 1920s. In the late 1920s, Chevrolet surpassed Ford in sales, becoming the top seller of both cars and trucks. This position for first place went back and forth between the two brands over the years.

3

Jeep

Image: Kenny Eliason

A brand that was born strong, Jeep vehicles were first used in World War II as a reliable ride and then slowly made their way into the American non-military market. This brand is dubbed as a "Go anywhere, Do anything" kind of vehicle, owing to its sturdy frame and powerful engine.

Nowadays Jeep is popular among off-roaders and has several classic models in its roster, including the Wrangler, Cherokee, and Grand Cherokee, among others.

4

Dodge

Image: Dan Gold

Believe it or not, Dodge was a bicycle maker before being a car maker . The brand, established in 1900 dealt with bicycles in the first place and then started supplying car parts before deciding to get into the production of vehicles in 1914.

In the early 1920s, after the original founders passed away Chrysler bought the brand and continued producing successful cars, among them, the Ram, the Charger, the Caravan, and many others.

5

GMC

Image: todd kent

Another hugely successful American brand is GMC. The General Motor Truck Company came into existence in 1911. Over the years, the company started manufacturing large powerful vehicles including SUVs, vans, and a massive range of trucks. Popular GMC models include Acadia, Canyon, Sierra, Sienna, and Yukon among others.

6

Cadillac

Image: Sidney Pearce

The most famous luxury car in America, Cadillac owes its name to Antoine Laumet de La Mothe Cadillac, a French adventurer who discovered the city of Detroit. Believe it or not, passenger seats and an enclosed cabin were introduced for the very first time by Cadillac because, well, that was considered a luxury back then.

Some famous Cadillac car brands include the Camaro, Silverado, Tahoe, and Impala, among others.

7

Lincoln

Image: Arvin Dale

Other than Cadillac, most people would say Lincoln if asked for a luxury car brand, since this company is also a pioneer in this segment. This popular American car manufacturer started making luxury vehicles in 1917, at a time when the concept was not affordable for many.

Some classic Lincoln cars that are timeless to date include the Zephyr, the Town Car, the Mark LT, and the Navigator SUV. The latest SUVs popular among car enthusiasts include the Nautilus, MKC, Aviator, and Lincoln Corsair.

8

Tesla

Image: Tesla Fans Schweiz

Not many car brands have become so iconic in as few years as Tesla has and there is a simple reason for this: this American car brand revolutionized regular automobiles and made them electric . It had been done before, yes. But not with this level of success.

Tesla is a pioneer in reducing the carbon footprint of the environment with its electric vehicles. Many auto manufacturers are now following in Tesla’s footsteps. The revolutionary company unveiled its first creation called the Tesla Roadster in 2008.

9

Buick

Image: Mohammad Hoseini Rad

Buick is one of the oldest automobile brands in the world, having been founded in 1899. The company has a long history of producing high-quality, luxury, and performance-oriented vehicles and has been a part of General Motors since 1908.

In recent years, Buick has seen a decline in sales in the United States and has focused on the Chinese market where the brand has experienced success. Buick has shifted its focus towards producing more crossover and SUV models to meet the demand for larger vehicles in the current market.

10

Oldsmobile

Image: Hombre

Honoring its name, Oldsmobile, like the aforementioned Buick, was one of the oldest automobile brands in the United States, being founded in 1897. It initially gained popularity through innovations such as the first mass-produced car and the first automatic transmission.

In the mid-20th century, it was known for its performance and style, being a public favorite. However, by the late 1990s, Oldsmobile’s sales began to decline, leading to its discontinuation in 2004 as part of General Motors’ restructuring.