gold discoveries

Describes the origins of the California Gold Rush that began in 1848, the individuals and mining techniques involved, and the resulting wealth, destruction, and tragedy.

Early Whitcomb, whose family's farm in Iowa is failing due to drought, is enticed by his uncle Jesse to go west and dig for gold to help prevent foreclosure, but during their adventure, Jesse gets into trouble, and Early makes hard decisions while trying to find his relative and the riches that lay hidden in the mountains.

In 1849, twelve-year-old California Morning Whipple, who renames herself Lucy, is distraught when her mother moves the family from Massachusetts to a rough California mining town.