THE CARIBOO GOLD RUSHTHE CARIBOO GOLD RUSH

The New The New EldoradoEldorado

GOLD WAS DISCOVEREDGOLD WAS DISCOVERED

1857 – First Nations 1857 – First Nations people on the people on the Thompson River Thompson River found nuggets and found nuggets and brought them to the brought them to the HBC store.HBC store.

James Douglas said, James Douglas said, “It was GOLD.”“It was GOLD.”

THE GOLD RUSH IS ONTHE GOLD RUSH IS ON

The quiet town of Victoria The quiet town of Victoria went from 300 fur traders went from 300 fur traders to 20,000.to 20,000.

2,800 people in a single 2,800 people in a single day.day.

Lots went from $50 to Lots went from $50 to $1500.$1500.

Miners from California Miners from California packed up and headed packed up and headed north.north.

VICTORIA TO GOLD VICTORIA TO GOLD COUNTRYCOUNTRY

Left Victoria on anything Left Victoria on anything that floated.that floated.

(canoe,raft, and rowboat)(canoe,raft, and rowboat) Fights broke out for places Fights broke out for places

on steamers.on steamers. Arrived in New Arrived in New

Westminister.Westminister. From there guided by First From there guided by First

Nations or road in a wagon Nations or road in a wagon along the Cariboo Trail.along the Cariboo Trail.

THE CARIBOO ROADTHE CARIBOO ROAD

- Governor Douglas built a Governor Douglas built a road to ensure taxable road to ensure taxable revenue.revenue.

- Miners would have to Miners would have to pass in order to get gold pass in order to get gold out.out.

- Road would also promote Road would also promote settlement.settlement.

- 4 hard yrs and $750,0004 hard yrs and $750,000- Never totally recouped $$Never totally recouped $$

THE CARIBOO ROADTHE CARIBOO ROAD

BARKERVILLEBARKERVILLE

Grew up almost Grew up almost overnight – Barker’s overnight – Barker’s strike of goldstrike of gold

By 1860 = 5000 By 1860 = 5000 people – largest town people – largest town north of San Francisco north of San Francisco and west of Chicago.and west of Chicago.

Facilities improved as Facilities improved as access improved.access improved.

METHODS OF GOLD MININGMETHODS OF GOLD MINING

PANNINGPANNING- Easiest and simplest Easiest and simplest

method.method.- Metal pan with Metal pan with

sloping sides.sloping sides.- Gold is heavy and Gold is heavy and

sinks to bottom of pan.sinks to bottom of pan.- Wash light gravel out.Wash light gravel out.- Left with black sand Left with black sand

and gold flakes.and gold flakes.

METHODS OF MININGMETHODS OF MINING

ROCKINGROCKING- Faster method; two Faster method; two

person job.person job.- Built a box on rockers Built a box on rockers

(like a cradle).(like a cradle).- One shoveled sand One shoveled sand

and the other poured and the other poured water to wash it water to wash it through.through.

-One rocker could produce $100/day.-By 1858, $500,000 worth of gold taken from the Fraser River

METHODS OF MININGMETHODS OF MINING

HYDRALICHYDRALIC- Used heavy water to Used heavy water to

erode banks.erode banks.- Very environmently Very environmently

unfriendly.unfriendly.- Used to displace great Used to displace great

quantity of earth.quantity of earth.

fig10[1].jpg

MAIN ROUTES TO B.C.MAIN ROUTES TO B.C.

ROUTE ONEROUTE ONE- Fastest routeFastest route- Most expensiveMost expensive- Sail from England to Sail from England to

Panama CanalPanama Canal- Cross isthmus by stageCross isthmus by stage- Sail North to San Sail North to San

FranciscoFrancisco- Steamship to B.C.Steamship to B.C.- 6 to 8 weeks6 to 8 weeks

MAIN ROUTES TO B.C.MAIN ROUTES TO B.C.

ROUTE TWOROUTE TWO- Cheaper routeCheaper route- Much slowerMuch slower- Sail around tip of Sail around tip of

South AmericaSouth America- Sail North to San Sail North to San

FranciscoFrancisco- Further North to Further North to

VictoriaVictoria- 4 month journey4 month journey

MAIN ROUTES TO B.C.MAIN ROUTES TO B.C.

ROUTE THREEROUTE THREE- Long and difficult tripLong and difficult trip- Steamer from England Steamer from England

to Quebecto Quebec- Overland to B.C.Overland to B.C.- Carts, wagons, stage Carts, wagons, stage

coach, canoe, train, coach, canoe, train, snowshoe, raftssnowshoe, rafts

- Many dangersMany dangers- Rocky Mountains Rocky Mountains

THE END OF THE GOLD THE END OF THE GOLD RUSHRUSH

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BEAR MEATBEAR MEATThis outhouse This outhouse

hadn’t been hadn’t been used in a used in a 100 yrs.100 yrs.

But it was on this day!

Me

Grizzly Bear

‘Hunormus’ claws