Northern Georgia

When one thinks of a Gold Rush in the U.S., the California Gold Rush of 1849 first comes to mind. Little is said of the first major gold rush in the U.S. which preceded California's by 20 years.

Dahlonega, (pronounced with emphasis on the "lon"), claims mining history that dates back to 1828. Washing down from the mountainsides for centuries, it wasn't difficult to find, barely hidden on top of the ground even, on this land that was Cherokee Territory. It was, in fact, here that the well-known phrase "Thar's gold in them thar hills" originated. It was proclaimed by a local official from the steps of the county courthouse while trying to persuade miners from rushing off to search for gold in California.

Today, mining lives on in the town, to a much smaller degree, of course, as panning for personal use is still allowed in the riverbeds and streams.

Dahlonega is a charming university town of some 6- to 7,000 residents, known also for its excellent quality of life, scenic beauty and nearby wineries.

Just an hour or so north of Atlanta one can become completely enveloped in an atmosphere of stunning scenery and total relaxation. This is mountainous country: a beautiful blend of the North Georgia Mountains and the southern end of the Blue Ridge, all a part of the umbrella Appalachian Mountains.

The choices are endless: easy backroads to top-notch wineries; panning for gold in one of the larger towns in the area: Dahlonega; an easy or a strenous hike on the Appalachian Trail; visiting a picturesque town of Helen. Winding rivers, waterfalls and quiet state parks combine to make a wonderful memorable stay.

This isn't meant to sound like an ad, but my four-day stay is worth mentioning. Enjoy the pics!

Price Memorial Hall, on the campus of the University of North Georgia, was once a U.S. Mint of gold coins. It was destroyed by fire in 1878 and this structure, now an admin building of the university, was erected the following year on the same site. Its steeple (shown here) is leafed with gold which came from the surrounding hills.

Just off of Dahlonega's town square sits on display the Chatahoochie River Diving Bell that was found submerged in the river years after the gold rush had ended. The purpose of the diving bell was to allow miners to pan for gold in the river. Picture a barge on the river with a hole in the middle large enough to set the diving bell through. Once it hit the river bottom, air and water were forced out, allowing the men to pan safely for a moderate amount of time. How the bell sank to the bottom of the river is, to this day, an unknown mystery. Years passed, and in 1981 the top vent was sighted in the water. Raising curiousity, the bell was raised, restored and put on display.

Two gold mines in the town of Dahlonega offer tours, one down into the mine itself, and a chance to do some actual panning. It's great for the kids, but adults get a lot of enjoyment from it, too. And you get to keep what you find. Woohoo!!! It won't make you rich, but you're sure to get a laugh or two out of it.

At Crisson Gold Mine, in addition to panning for gold, you get to pan for gems. These are ones I brought up in my bucket. Crisson also offers cutting, polishing and setting of the gems for a reasonable price. These gems are (top to bottom): Rose Quartz , Citrine, Moss Agate and Sodalite

An interesting drive is up to Blood Mountain, an area where one is able to get onto the Appalachian Trail and see "The Shoe Tree." Kudos to those who hike any portion of the trail, but this trip didn't allow me the time. So, as an alternative I visited a small portion of it.

The Shoe Tree is outside the Mountain Crossings Store at Neels Gap, where bona fide hikers can get hiking and camping supplies, including a new pair of hiking boots, if necessary. The old ones, as tradition dictates, are tossed up into a tree, creating an overhang of dozens and dozens of shoes and boots.

Mountain Crossings Store is considered the end of the trail (for those who started north) since it's only about 30 miles (2 or 3 days' worth of hiking) to the official end, Springer Mountain, Georgia.

Thank you for visiting these photo pages.

If you're interested in seeing more, please return to my Main Menu at the bottom of my home page and make your selection.

All images within thewanderingchick.com Web site are copyright protected. They may not be downloaded or otherwise copied.

Please contact me if you think a particular photo or set of photos can be used in your publication.