California’s history is rich and diverse, with numerous fascinating stories hidden in its past. Before the discovery of gold in the Sierras, San Francisco (Yerba Buena) and its surroundings comprised a sparsely populated frontier on the edge of the old Spanish realm. After 1848, the area rapidly transformed into a settled urban system as a tremendous influx of prospectors and settlers came to seek their fortune in California. A wave of gold miners, merchants, farmers, politicians, carpenters, and many others from various backgrounds and corners of the world migrated to the area at that time. Interrelated social, geographic, and economic processes led to a very quick metamorphosis from frontier settlement to a firmly established system with ingrained economic patterns. The development of San Francisco’s outlying region from a wilderness into a prosperous village and farming mecca shows how quickly in-migration coupled with economic diversification can establish a stable settlement structure upon the landscape. Otterstrom describes an intricately woven tapestry of interrelated people who were contributing creators of a wide variety of prosperous northern California environs. He uncovers the processes that converted this sleepy post-Mexican outpost into a focal point of nearly hyperactive youthful growth. The narrative follows this crucial story of settlement development until the dawn of the twentieth century, through the interconnected framework of individual and family ingenuity, migration trajectories, and diverse geographical scales. Multiplying individualistic experiences from across far-flung appendages of the Northern California system into larger and larger scales, Otterstrom has achieved a matchless historical and sociological study that will form the basis for any future studies of the area.

Felix Paul Wierzbicki's 'California as It Is and as It May Be: A Guide to the Gold Region' offers a detailed and insightful exploration of California during the Gold Rush era. Written in a straightforward and informative style, Wierzbicki's book provides a comprehensive guide to the geography, economy, and society of the region, making it a valuable resource for scholars and enthusiasts alike. The author's attention to detail and firsthand accounts of life in California during this time period adds a layer of authenticity to the work, painting a vivid picture of the challenges and opportunities faced by those seeking their fortune in the Gold Region. Wierzbicki's blend of historical facts and personal anecdotes creates a compelling narrative that sheds light on the realities of life in California during this tumultuous period. His expertise on the subject matter is evident throughout the book, making it a must-read for anyone interested in the history of the American West or the Gold Rush era.

"The occupation of California by the people of the United States, and the discovery of its rich gold mines, form a new era in the history of the world. According to present appearances, these events forbode a complete revolution in monetary and commercial affairs. The receipts of gold from California have already produced a sensible effect on the financial affiars of our country; and far-seeing people predict an entirely new state of things with respect to the relative value of money and property."--Preface

Great Escapes: Selective guides for travelers who want to find quick trips and getaways within a specific locale. They take away the drudgery of sifting through online and printed travel info by listing only the most worthwhile events, activities, and places to stay and eat. Great Escapes: Northern California provides at-a-glance trip ideas to major destinations such as San Francisco and Lake Tahoe and lesser-known areas such as the Gold Rush towns of the Sierra foothills and the isolated beaches of the Sonoma coast. Activities range from catching the sunset from the best spot on Monterey Peninsula to hiking to a Sierra Nevada lookout point. Carefully-chosen places to stay all have unique charm or historical significance, and dining options range from Michelin-starred restaurants to local favorites.

First published in 1858 ‘Handbook to the New Gold-Fields’ is a fascinating guide by prolific author R.M. Ballantyne to the land of California following the initial gold rush there. In it he describes the new gold-fields, the wildlife, and the people of the area – both the American Indians and the workers who had come to seek their fortune from afar. With beautiful and evocative descriptions throughout, this is a fascinating glimpse of California following perhaps one of the most altering periods of its history. R.M. Ballantyne (1825-1894) was a Scottish artist and prolific author of mostly children’s fiction. Born in Edinburgh, Ballantyne was the ninth of ten children. At the age of 16 Ballantyne moved to Canada, where he worked for the Hudson’s Bay Company, travelling all over the country to trade for fur. He returned to Scotland in 1847 following the death of his father, and it was then that he began his literary career in earnest, writing over 100 children’s adventure books over the course of his life. Stories such as ‘The Coral Island’ and ‘The Young Fur Traders’ were hugely popular, and many of them drew on his own experiences of travelling throughout Canada. A stickler for detail, Ballantyne continued to travel widely to research the backgrounds and settings for his exciting stories. His tales became an inspiration for authors of the future, including ‘Treasure Island’ novelist Robert Louis Stevenson. Ballantyne spent the latter period of his life living in London and Italy for the sake of his health. He died in Rome in 1894 at the age of 68.