Trail to Riches? The California Gold Rush and the Settlement of the Pacific Northwest

“It was the beginning of our national madness, our insanity of greed.” A reference to the tech stocks bubble, or the recent Enron debacle? No, this remark was uttered over 150 years ago by one of the 80,000 gold seekers that swarmed into California, hoping to strike it rich. A fascinating look at this period of incredible American expansion (1840-1876), Trail to Riches? begins with a 50,000 acre land grant being given to John Sutter in California, and ends with the Sioux War and Custer's infamous “Last Stand” in the Black Hills of the Dakotas. Employing photographs, historical reenactments, interviews with historians, maps, and quotes, this exciting period of U.S. history is brought to life, as the program explores the sociological, geographical, and political changes that resulted from the mass migration of the “Forty-Niners,” without shying away from the horrible injustices inflicted on non-whites: Native Americans, Chinese immigrants, and blacks. Great editing, an attention-grabbing script, and an excellent mix of spoken and visual elements make this highly recommended. Aud: J, H. (E. Gieschen)