SUSTAINABILITY AND THE DIARY OF A 19TH CENTURY GOLD MINER: INSIGHTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE IN NORTH AMERICA

In 1849, Gideon Nichols traveled from his home on Long Island, New York, across the entire continent of North America, to the gold fields of California. He worked panning gold for over a year and made a little money. He returned to Long Island in 1851 via ship and an overland segment through Panama. What is remarkable about Nichol’s experience during the height of the California gold rush is that he kept a detailed diary about his experiences traveling and working his claim in California. This paper reviews several aspects about his experiences that provide a glimpse into the environmental and sustainability setting of the time. The diary is specifically analyzed to assess sustainability and environmental impacts of 19^th century transportation, food, energy use, and landscape modification. What is revealed in the diary is that Nichols experienced in his travels and in the gold fields of California a time of tremendous environmental change. While he personally opted for rather sustainable modes of food, energy, and transportation, he was frequently confronted with the environmental impacts of bad decision-making by others. An analysis of some of the places noted in Nichols’ diary indicate that some are no longer present due to anthropogenic impacts, such as dam building and sedimentation, that occurred after 1851. Considering that the mid 19^th century is often cited as the start of the Anthropocene, the diary provides a fascinating glimpse into an environment distinctly different from today.