They traveled here from family hearths throughout the world to mine Sierra's treasures from the Golden Mother Lode.
O'er claims where stood raw shacks and sailcloth tents the woodsmoke curled,
while pick and shovel, pan and sluice marked where cold waters flowed.
One hundred fifty miles of honeyed white quartz vein yielded yellow nuggets, flakes and dust of precious gold.
Men came from every walk of life to forge the camptown chain.
Where Bret Harte and Mark Twain their struggles and their triumphs told.
Jackson, Hangtown, Mokelumne Hill, Coloma, Angel's Camp, Grass Valley, Mariposa -
All are legendary lore.
Judge them not for greed or deed of rogue and scamp,But rather for the men of heart and all they bravely bore.
What though they failed to find or finally lost their golden gleam?
Their hope and courage yet were equal to their dream.
Charles B. Garrigus
Poet Laureate
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