The Rush To Riches in California
Experience the discovery of gold in 1848! Can you build a thriving California boomtown while also staking your mining claim? Will you thrive or barely survive?
CONTACT US
Approximate play time: 4 chapters (15-20 minutes per chapter)
Includes eBook
Engaging & Fast-Paced Gameplay
Compelling Story
Students play as Keith Derby, an ex-soldier who is fresh from fighting in California’s Bear Flag Revolt. Derby’s commander John Fremont encourages Derby to stick around…He’s got an inkling that something big is about to happen in California now that it’s part of the U.S.! Derby goes to work for a quirky Swiss emigré named Johann Sutter, building a mill…when something golden and shiny appears along the banks of the American River. GOLD! Overnight California is transformed from backwater to boomtown.
Build a Business Empire
Game Features
Derby befriends a cook named Jennie Wimmer. She’s lived through one gold rush in Georgia already and always has sage advice. Together they build a business empire encompassing mines, laundries, hotels, restaurants, and stagecoaches—catering to the needs of the miners with gold to spend but who have little time to focus on necessities like food and shelter. Along the way, you’ll take on other business partners: Real historical figures who represent the diversity of human experiences during the Gold Rush, including a former slave, immigrants from China and Germany, a New Jersey carpenter, and a Mormon newspaperman.
The California Gold Rush
Deep Learning Happens When Kids Have Fun
With witty text dialogue amongst characters, various styles and mechanics, kids are engaged in fun, all the while learning about pivotal moments in history.