Plenty of people are aware of the big California gold rush of 1849, it was such a big part of California's history that they've celebrated it by naming an NFL team after it. Well, not to be outdone, Minnesota had its own gold rush, albeit not as illustrious as the California one.

Back in 1858 and 1859 Minnesota saw a gold rush of its own, with people coming to the Zumbro River, in Southern Minnesota, looking to strike it rich with the glittering metal. Here's the rundown of that gold rush.

Desperate Times For People In 1857

Back in 1857, there was a financial crisis, which was later called the Panic of 1857. What happened was "a large bank failed, a decline in international trade, and too much credit being extended to people." This was considered to be the world's first financial crisis, so you can guess that people were on edge and looking to ensure their financial security, by any means necessary.

By 1858, the gold rush in California had started to wane, rail travel West was then starting to slow down, and the banks were nervous from the Panic of 1857.

This all culminated in a perfect storm that saw a portion of Southern Minnesota see a rush of people looking to make their fortune after gold was discovered in the Zumbro River, not to far from Rochester.

The Minnesota Gold Rush 1858-1859

A historical marker in Oronoco details the rush.

"On July 1, 1858, the Rochester Democrat reported: "The excitement in reference to the gold discoveries in and near Rochester and near Oronoco is unabated. The diggings at Oronoco are yielding two to six dollars a day, per man. . . . Some ninety to one hundred men are at work in the diggins.""

The discovery of gold was enough to drive people here for the chance of striking it rich. The only problem with the rush was that Mother Nature wasn't in on the plan.

Two subsequent floods on the Zumbro wiped out the miner's hard work in both 1858 and 1859, and the second flood was enough to end the gold rush right there.

There is still a 'Gold Rush' in Oronoco

While the flood of 1859 ended the 'real' gold rush here in Minnesota, Oronoco itself still has a gold rush of it's own.

Get our free mobile app

The City of Oronoco celebrates its version of a gold rush during the 3rd week in August. Oronoco Gold Rush Days is an outdoor antique show as well as a town celebration. You can learn more about that town celebration here.