Sunday Lecture Presented: The Georgia Gold Rush of 1829-1842 and Its Myriad Consequences

Thank you, Dr. Marchione, for your very informative presentation on April 2 entitled “The Georgia Gold Rush of 1829-42 and Its Myriad Consequences”.

Presentation Summary:

The first major gold rush in US history occurred during the years 1829 to 1842, at a location a scant 60 miles north of Smyrna. The lure of gold, a recurrent theme in American history from the Age of Exploration onward, led in the case of North Georgia to a huge influx of prospectors that flocked into the area of present-day Lumpkin, White, Union, and Cherokee counties. Settlers were little concerned with the provisions of federal treaties which stipulated that this territory belonged to its indigenous population, the Cherokee Indians. The Georgia Gold Rush led in short order to the forced removal of the native population in a tragic episode known as "The Trail of Tears." The lecture will also examine the history of gold mining in the years that followed the initial "intrusion," when the industry fell by degrees under the control of outsiders.

Presenter: Dr. William Marchione is the author A Brief History of Smyrna, Georgia. He is a retired educator, historian, author, and frequent lecturer for Smyrna Public Library and other local organizations.

The Sunday Lecture series is sponsored by the Friends of Smyrna Library.