Gold seekers attempted to reach California in several ways. Trains did not traverse the distance, but could be taken to about the Mississippi River. Then seekers would travel by wagon or horse and possibly walking. Others took the long arduous trip around South America to reach the American west coast.
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In California.
it lured thousands of California miners to Nevada.
The 1849 California gold rush attracted Americans from all walks of life. Of course the first Americans involved were miners. As news of the gold discovery spread, people from US cities, and farmlands became gold miners. Thus California's population instantly grew in size and a good number of the new miners became rich, not all however.
The 49ers were gold miners that went to California to mine for gold in 1849.
There were a number of events that increased interest in a route to California. Probably the most important was the acquisition of California in the Mexican-American War, and the immediately following California Gold Rush. The Civil War added urgency to the transcontinental Railroad, and was very important as well.