how did people "mine the miners" in gold rush towns?
In 1849, the Gold Rush had started, but in California there was more than just mining. There were many towns that started gambling and having lots of fun! Many miners worked six days a week or 12-16 hours a day, but on Sunday they would go into town and act like animals. On Sunday mornings they would have auctions and in the afternoon there would be a bullfight and a circus in towns. There were dance houses and gambling halls for miners. Miners streamed out their camps into the woods or mountains. Most people just went straight to a entertainment center (gambling and drinking). There were not many women around in California, but sometimes women at gambling salons would pour drinks or entertain. Miners would write letters to home talking about California’s unique entertainment. Sometimes the miners would write a letter about how some others are acting. Henry Packer was a miner who wrote a letter to his fiancee saying that he was seeing someone else. The Gold Rush towns really did change a lot of people.
There were many theaters like the Eagle Theater which was only open for two and a half months. There were many theaters that were just coming into California. In the 1850’s there were over 1,000 theatrical pieces in California (which was a lot at the time) and 22 Shakespeare plays present there. In the 1850’s the Gold Rush towns were getting more women. Non-native women had a population of 5% in 1850, but in 1860 the population increased to 19 percent! The increase brought them up to about 9,000 non-native women. The Gold Rush towns were known for their intense gaming and unique entertainment for everyone there to enjoy. Oh, life was good in the Gold Rush!
Michael R.
Sources:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/goldrush/peopleevents/e_fun.html
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/goldrush/peopleevents/p_wilson.html
There were many theaters like the Eagle Theater which was only open for two and a half months. There were many theaters that were just coming into California. In the 1850’s there were over 1,000 theatrical pieces in California (which was a lot at the time) and 22 Shakespeare plays present there. In the 1850’s the Gold Rush towns were getting more women. Non-native women had a population of 5% in 1850, but in 1860 the population increased to 19 percent! The increase brought them up to about 9,000 non-native women. The Gold Rush towns were known for their intense gaming and unique entertainment for everyone there to enjoy. Oh, life was good in the Gold Rush!
Michael R.
Sources:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/goldrush/peopleevents/e_fun.html
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/goldrush/peopleevents/p_wilson.html