RV Lifestyle Stretching fromEl Dorado County south toMariposa County, the Mother Lode is a continuous 120-kilometre-long zone of hard rock gold deposits. In the spring 2016 issue, we introduced the California Gold Rush Trail; in the summer 2016 issue, we continued our tour of the gold country with a focus on Amador County. In this issue, we’ll explore Calaveras County. Due to its historic nature as one of the original areas settled by goldmining hopefuls in California’s Gold Rush of 1849, each town in Calaveras County has its quaint, historic centre with charming buildings featuring Victorian architecture. Founded in 1848, Mokelumne Hill had its beginnings as a trading centre for the miners fromnearby claims. During the 1850s, Moke Hill, as the locals call it, was the leading town of Calaveras County. Large quantities of gold were found in the area and it became one of the liveliest, largest, and principal placer mining communities of the Mother Lode. Mokelumne Hill was known as one of the most violent, bawdy towns in the Mother Lode. As the gold played out, Mokelumne Hill shrunk from a wild and woolly 15,000 to the much-less-populated, quiet historic village that it is today. Exploring California Gold Country Story and photos by Rex Vogel Calaveras County Mokelumne Hill Angels Camp Murphys laveras County Mokelumne Hill Angels Camp Murphys 38 | www.snowbirds.org
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