Was there gold in them there hills? Yes. Long before San Diego became known for its beaches, research labs, and urban growth, the mountains to the east briefly thrived with the promise of gold.

On the morning of Jan. 24, 1848, James Marshall made a discovery that would forever change the trajectory of California. In a creek near the town of Coloma, a remote community wedged in the foothills ...

The U.S. is home to many towns shaped by the 19th-century gold rush, from Groveland, an underrated gateway to Yosemite National Park, to Nevada City, a perfect alternative to Napa Valley. Many of ...