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California Gold Rush
A satirical print depicting a ship departing with gold prospectors from California, 1849.

A satirical print depicting a ship departing with gold prospectors from California, 1849.

This print was created by lithographer Nathaniel Currier and published in New York. In the dialogue bubbles, “Solomon” and “Ophir” are Biblical references. In the Bible, King Solomon was fantastically wealthy, and Ophir was the name of the place from which Solomon received regular shipments of gold, silver, and other precious materials.

Transcription:

The text bubbles on this print read:

[[object Object]]

It’s no use talking, cant take any more, we have gold enough aboard to sink a navy.

Bill I’m afraid this old concern will sink and then what’ll become of all our gold?

It will go to the D__l and you with it.

[[object Object]]

You wont catch me going away from home agin [[object Object]] without my mother knows I’m out.

Oh for the wisdom of Solomon!

They say that this is the “Ophir” where he sent for gold, but he was too wise to go himself.

Captain, you know we were to go shares, when we left home, you’ve got yours aboard and now are scoundrel enough to leave me here to starve.

Take me aboard. I’m starving I’ll give you a Million!

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Citation Information
Currier, Nathaniel, “The way they come to California,” Digital Public Library of America, https://dp.la/item/6f776fd76530edaa796e9552717646b3.
Note: These citations are programmatically generated and may be incomplete.
Courtesy of UC Berkeley, Bancroft Library via California Digital Library.

Tips for Students

For this source, consider:

  • the author's point of view
  • the author's purpose
  • historical context
  • audience

Item 15 of 15 in the Primary Source Set California Gold Rush

Previous Item
A map showing the gold mining region of California and routes for traveling there, 1849.
A print depicting a long line of men, women, and families waiting to depart for the gold regions of California, 1848.
An excerpt from A trip across the plains, and life in California by George Keller, 1851.
A letter from gold prospector Newton Chandler to his wife Jane after arriving in San Francisco, January 15, 1855.
A painting of California gold miners around a campfire, ca. 1850.
A portrait of surveyor Alonzo Doolittle posing with a bag of gold, ca. 1850.
A photograph of African American and white gold prospectors working together at Spanish Flat, California, 1852.
A photograph of a group of white and Chinese miners at a sluice box in Auburn Ravine, 1852.
A letter from Thornton McElroy to his wife Sarah about his gold mining experience since arriving in California, June 19, 1850.
An excerpt of a letter from Augustin Hibbard to his brother William about his early days in California and gold mining experience, September 4, 1850.
A map of the gold mining districts of California showing mining locations and Native American villages, 1850.
A print depicting a road scene in Gold Rush California, with Native Americans, Chinese immigrants, settlers, and gold prospectors, 1856.
A print of a bird’s eye view of the town of Columbia, California surrounded by images of the town’s major buildings, 1855.
An excerpt from Eldorado: or, Adventures in the Path of Empire by Bayard Taylor, originally published in 1850.
A satirical print depicting a ship departing with gold prospectors from California, 1849.

These sets were created and reviewed by teachers. Explore resources and ideas for Using DPLA's Primary Source Sets in your classroom.

To give feedback, contact us at info@dp.la. You can also view resources for National History Day.

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