The January 1848 discovery of gold nuggets in the South Fork of the American River started a rush to the foothills of the Sierra Nevada that lasted more than two decades. The tale of gold for the taking was told and retold in a multitude of tongues and on several continents. Jews from many lands and speaking many languages were among the thousands of individuals who made the difficult journey to seek a new life of economic, political, and social freedom in the new American West.

Nestled in the spectacular California Gold Rush Country are seven pioneer Jewish cemeteries, preserved as historic sites and dedicated to the memory of these Gold Rush pioneers. As you travel historic Route 49 and study the worn inscriptions on these gravestones, you will discover evidence of Jewish community life in these Gold Rush towns--pioneer family ties, the high rate of infant mortality, membership in local organizations, and in a few cases, the violence of the frontier.

This easy-to-use guide is a must for all who enjoy traveling in the routes of the past, finding evidence of communities long gone. Your journey will be made easier with maps, extensive illustrations, walking tours of the cemeteries, and a suggested three-day visit to the Gold Country.