Humboldt Gold

             California is rightly called “the Golden State” because its history was strongly colored by the discovery of gold. And although Humboldt County is not popularly considered part of “gold country,” its history also had a golden beginning.

            The 1849 California Gold Rush concentrated on the Sierra foothills, but an expedition from the Sacramento Valley revealed that gold was also abundant in the rivers and streams of the Trinity Mountains. However, access from the valley was difficult for miners and their supplies. In 1849 a group of hopeful miners there, unable to dig during the winter rains, decided to head west in hopes of finding a more accessible and profitable route inland from the coast. Led by Dr. Josiah Gregg, they finally reached Humboldt Bay after a long and arduous trip, and when the survivors (not including Gregg who died in the attempt) reached San Francisco it sparked off a rush to find the illusive bay entrance and establish settlements.

            Gold seekers soon poured in. Pack trains to take hopeful miners and their supplies to the gold fields originated from around Humboldt Bay as well as from Trinidad and Rohnerville. Support businesses blossomed, not only merchants, blacksmiths and bankers but also farms and dairies.

            Among the many who didn’t strike it rich in the mountains, some moved to the coast and settled here. This included men like William Carson who instead of making his fortune in gold, did so in the “red gold” of timber.

            The Forty Niner influx came from around the world. Census records show that these new Humboldters originated from practically every state and European country. An influx of Chinese led to establishment of little Chinatowns in Eureka and Arcata and to subsequent ethnic conflicts. The omni-presence of miners in traditional tribal hunting and fishing grounds exacerbated the so called “Indian Wars” leading, in turn, to establishment of military bases at Fort Humboldt and around the county.

            So, gold did, indeed, play a pivotal role in our county’s early history. But there is one additional chapter that is often overlooked in California’s gold story. Some enthusiastic gold seekers in the 1850s discovered that gold wasn’t only to be found inland but also along our beaches. Gold flecks were discovered among the black sands of Gold Bluffs north of Trinidad.

            For several decades, companies were formed, investments made, and gold seekers hit the beach bringing mechanical dredgers and dubious chemical extraction methods. There was even a brief attempt at submarine mining in the mistaken belief that the gold there came from the ocean and not the bluffs. But the difficulty and expense of extraction proved not worth the gain, and another golden dream burst.

            Although Humboldt County does not get into the tourist brochures as part of Gold Rush Country, our history has been very much colored by the metal. And it is still possible to go to local outdoors suppliers and buy gold pans. Dreams of striking it big spring eternally!