Many years have passed since the 1849 California Gold Rush near Sacramento, 158 in fact. These were the days long before the inventions of the light bulb or the automobile. The United States Civil War was still 12 years off, and California was not even a state yet.

Life was difficult for a majority of Americans. Those that lived in towns (less than 20% of the population) were afforded a slightly higher standard of living than the masses of people living in rural areas. The life expectancy of newborns was only approximately 40 years. In times like these, it is not hard to imagine that many people would face great risk and uncertainty for a chance to strike it rich.

It did not take long for news of Gold in California to spread across the country. Many sought the precious metal and the rewards it could bring.Life was difficult enough before for these individuals, and ended up being no better for most of them. They faced hardships that most of us can not even comprehend.

Fast forward to present day, and adventurous individuals are still looking for gold in the hills by Sacramento. They may be using 4 wheel drive vehicles instead of 4-hoofed transportation, but they are still hitting obstacles, this time in the form of government intervention.

For more information on this story, please read the HuntTreasure.net article: Treasure Or Trouble: From the California 49ers to Present Day