The discovery of gold in the Sierra Nevada in 1848 sparked the California Gold Rush, leading to a massive influx of people seeking their fortune.

The California Gold Rush, which began in 1848, was triggered by the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill in the Sierra Nevada foothills. This event transformed California's landscape and history, as thousands of people, known as "forty-niners," flocked to the region in search of riches. The Gold Rush had a profound impact on California's development, leading to rapid population growth, the establishment of mining towns, and the eventual statehood of California in 1850.