1853 Meyer and Radefeld Geological Map of the United States

A superb 1853 Carl Radefeld and Joseph Meyer geologic map of the United States with special highlighting of the California Gold Region.

A Closer Look

Twenty geological formations are highlighted here using different colors and color combinations, including Aluvium and Post-pliocene, chalk, and several kinds of sandstone. For economy of space, political toponyms are limited, with smaller states numerically keyed and larger territories and states named directly on the map. A handful of railroads appear east of the Mississippi. Indian nations are identified by name throughout. In California, cities and towns line the coastline. The Gold Region is highlighted in bright yellow, with Nueva Helvetia (New Helvetia) identified in bold lettering. Even though this map was published 4 years after the peak of the California Gold Rush, its allure remained a point of fascination in Europe.

The California Gold Rush

The discovery of gold at John Sutter's Mill (located at Coloma, near the center) by James Wilson Marshall (1810 - 1885) in January of 1848 was one of the most definitive moments in American history. Coming at the end of the Mexican-American War (1846 - 1848), the timing of the discovery could not have been more propitious. The combination of new, seemingly unlimited territory and the lure of gold led to a stampede of adventurers, prospectors, merchants, and homesteaders eager for a new life. The Gold Rush was not limited to Americans crossing the Great Plains; European, Australian, and even Chinese immigrants rushed into California hungry for their part of the great strike. 'Push factors' also aligned perfectly with the discovery: continental Europeans sought to flee the backlash following the failed Revolutions of 1848, Irish immigrants were desperate to escape the famine in their homeland, and Chinese miners hailed from some of the most impoverished and overpopulated areas of southern China, particularly Taishan (Toishan), which saw intense fighting between long-establish locals and recent migrants. Tens of thousands of prospectors and other migrants arrived each year, greatly outnumbering the pre-gold rush population of California. This Great Migration transformed the United States in the span of just a few years from a former colony into an expansive transcontinental nation on the cusp of becoming a world power.

Publication History and Census

This map was drawn by Carl Radefeld and published by Joseph Meyer in his signature publication, the Grosser Hand-Atlas. This map is well represented in institutional collections.