Carson Hill, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Carson Hill
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 Carson Hill
Location in California
Carson Hill
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Calaveras County |
| Elevation | 1,447 ft (441 m) |
| Reference #: | 274 |
Carson Hill is a famous ghost town located in Calaveras County, California. It sits high up at 1447 feet (441 meters) above sea level. This old town was once one of the busiest and richest mining spots in California. Miners found nearly $26 million worth of gold and quartz here! Today, Carson Hill is recognized as California Historical Landmark #274, remembering its important past.
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Carson Hill: A Gold Rush Ghost Town
Carson Hill was also known by other names like Carson Flat, Melones, and Slumgullion. It is located about 4 miles (6.4 km) south-southeast of Angels Camp. During the exciting days of the California Gold Rush, this area was a huge center for finding gold. Its rich history makes it a fascinating place to learn about.
Who Was James H. Carson?
You might think Carson Hill is named after the famous explorer Kit Carson. But it's actually named after Sergeant James H. Carson. He was a soldier in Colonel Jonathan D. Stevenson's New York Volunteers regiment. James Carson was in Monterey when the Gold Rush began.
He first went to Weber Creek near Placerville. Then he traveled south with the Angel and Murphy brothers. These brothers later founded the towns of Angels Camp and Murphys. After they split up, Carson's group continued south. They found a small stream that flowed into the Stanislaus River. This stream was incredibly rich in gold! They named this area Carson Creek.
Sadly, James Carson didn't get rich from his discovery. He tried to find gold in other places but wasn't successful. He returned to Carson Creek but never really found his fortune. He passed away in 1853 from a sickness called rheumatism, and he was quite poor.
Amazing Gold Discoveries
The Morgan Mine was one of the richest mines in the Carson Hill area. It was so full of gold that miners didn't even need to dig deep. They would simply use explosives to break up a gold vein. Then, they would collect the pieces of gold that came out.
The Giant Gold Nugget
This mine was also where one of the largest gold nuggets in California was found. Imagine a huge chunk of gold weighing 195 pounds (about 88 kg)! This massive piece of gold was worth $43,000 at the time it was discovered. That was a huge amount of money back then!
A Surprising Discovery at a Burial
The Gold Country has many interesting stories, and one of the most colorful happened right here. It's said that during the early days of the Gold Rush, a man had died in a mining accident. People were gathered for his burial in the local cemetery.
As the funeral service was happening, someone noticed something shiny in the fresh dirt of the open grave. The ceremony was quickly forgotten! Everyone, even the minister, rushed to claim a piece of the newly discovered gold. It was a truly unexpected find!
Carson Hill's Changing Names
Over time, the name "Melones" was moved to another town several miles away. The name Carson Hill was also used for the post office in a nearby town called Irvine. This shows how names and places can change over history.
