Picture this. You're transported back in time, witnessing history unfold right before your eyes,

without any modern day interruptions. That's the magic of Wondery Plus.

Immerse yourself in the stories that shaped our nation with ad-free episodes,

early access to new seasons, and exclusive bonus content.

Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts and experience American history like never before.

We're excited to bring you new seasons on Great Escapes, Legendary Shootouts, and maybe the

most famous rock in America. But until they're ready, we're revisiting a fan favorite, our series

on the California Gold Rush. In May 1848, Sam Brannan walked the streets of San Francisco waving a bottle of glittering

dust and shouting about the discovery of gold in the American River. From the moment the first

nugget was discovered at Sutter's Mill to the rush that would follow, here is the story of how

gold fever changed America forever.

Imagine it's January 1848. You're a construction worker building a timber mill in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California.

Lush pine trees surround you on all sides. It's a bright winter day, but cold. You can smell frying sausages nearby as the cook prepares lunch. Your team is digging a canal to divert water from a

local river to power this new mill, and it's nearly complete.

You're eager to get the work done.

So you continue thrusting your shovel back into the dirt when a strange sight catches your eye.

Your boss is about 20 yards away,

splashing around frantically in the water running through the canal.

At first, it looks like he's lost something important.

But when he finally stops splashing, all he's holding is a handful of pebbles. Next thing you know, he's down on

his knees, pounding on one of the pebbles with a large rock. This gets you too curious.

You put down your shovel and walk over. Uh, you need help with anything, boss?

...