We had … the 'richest mines on earth.' . . . We were stark mad with excitement--drunk with happiness--smothered under mountains of prospective wealth--arrogantly compassionate toward the plodding millions who knew not our marvelous canyon--but our credit was not good at the grocer's. --Mark Twain, Roughing It (1872)

Image Gallery--Mining the West

	Thinking Points
	Before 1848-9, many maps of the United States stop near the Mississippi River. Why is this? After this time, maps often cover the entire continent. Other than gold discoveries, why else would the maps change? The maps often point out many minerals and resources found in the West. Why was it important to note natural resources of all kinds?

The stunning discovery of gold at Sutter's Fort in California in January 1848 had a major impact on mapping; even world maps after that date made room for gold-painted patches on California to make clear where the goods were. Gold created a fever, which spurred the building of roads and railroads to speed the travel west. Earlier, the impetus had been British and Russian incursions on the Pacific coast; gold fever instantly changed motivations and emigration patterns. California became an important destination, and San Francisco's population boomed. World maps emphasized railroad routes west and shipping routes across the Central American isthmus. Guidebooks for travelers across land and sea were instant bestsellers. Popular writers from Mark Twain to the explorer John Charles Frémont wrote about the gold fields.

But California was not alone in its golden treasure. Colorado, Wyoming, Alaska and Kansas all were known for periods of time for their gold mines and potential for making anyone rich. The mapmakers were not subtle as they created and sold thousands of maps pointing the way to worldly wealth.

uing conflicts with the Native Americans. General George Armstrong Custer, a hero in the Civil War, led an expedition in 1874 to the Black Hills, where his troops discovered gold. When word got out, goldseekers poured into areas considered sacred by Native Americans, thereby violating treaties signed by the US government. The Native Americans fought for their land, which led to the battle of the Little Bighorn (1876), a direct result of gold fever.