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Eldorado: Adventures in the Path of Empire
A journalist’s eyewitness account of the explosive 1849 California gold rush and his travels through Mexico.
In 1849, a young, wide-eyed reporter from New York ventured West not to seek riches, but to report on the madness and exuberance of the California gold rush. Sent by Horace Greeley, a highly respected New-York Tribune editor, twenty-four-year-old Bayard Taylor traveled through Panama to reach his final destination, San Francisco, which he described as an “amphitheatre of fire” in the night, gleaming with the promise of gold and progress.
In his enthralling and robust narrative, Bayard brings the reader into the wild, lush world of early California, reporting on the nearly overnight growth of townships and infrastructure after the gold rush. During his adventures, Bayard walked one hundred miles from San Francisco to Monterey, and later returned to New York via Mexico by foot, mule, and coach. Bayard describes the characters he met with an honest curiosity—heady gold miners who had once been doctors and lawyers, hospitable Mexicans from all classes of society, and even a highway robber who made off with his books.
Eldorado, which borrows its title from the South American–Spanish legend of a hidden land of gold, is a magnificent tale about the birth of California from a deserted land to a modern city sprawl. At once an account of history and of one man’s thrilling adventures, Eldorado transports the reader to the beginning of an era, with all its gold, glitz, and glamour.
In 1849, a young, wide-eyed reporter from New York ventured West not to seek riches, but to report on the madness and exuberance of the California gold rush. Sent by Horace Greeley, a highly respected New-York Tribune editor, twenty-four-year-old Bayard Taylor traveled through Panama to reach his final destination, San Francisco, which he described as an “amphitheatre of fire” in the night, gleaming with the promise of gold and progress.
In his enthralling and robust narrative, Bayard brings the reader into the wild, lush world of early California, reporting on the nearly overnight growth of townships and infrastructure after the gold rush. During his adventures, Bayard walked one hundred miles from San Francisco to Monterey, and later returned to New York via Mexico by foot, mule, and coach. Bayard describes the characters he met with an honest curiosity—heady gold miners who had once been doctors and lawyers, hospitable Mexicans from all classes of society, and even a highway robber who made off with his books.
Eldorado, which borrows its title from the South American–Spanish legend of a hidden land of gold, is a magnificent tale about the birth of California from a deserted land to a modern city sprawl. At once an account of history and of one man’s thrilling adventures, Eldorado transports the reader to the beginning of an era, with all its gold, glitz, and glamour.
- GenresHistoryNonfiction
512 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1850
50 people are currently reading
108 people want to read
About the author
Bayard Taylor
732 books15 followersBayard Taylor was a poet, literary critic, translator, fiction and travel author.
His interest in poetry was coached by the influential critic and editor Rufus Wilmot Griswold, who encouraged him to write a volume of poetry. Published at Philadelphia in 1844, Ximena, or the Battle of the Sierra Morena, and other Poems was dedicated to Griswold. It made little income, but indirectly was a means of his introduction to The New York Tribune.
With the money from his poetry and an advance for some journalistic work to be done in Europe, Taylor set sail for Europe. The young poet spent a happy time in roaming on foot through certain districts of England, France, Germany and Italy; this tour of almost two years cost him only £100. The accounts which he sent from Europe to The New York Tribune, The Saturday Evening Post, and The United States Gazette were so highly appreciated that on Taylor's return to America, he was advised to compile his articles into book form.
In 1846, he published Views Afoot, or Europe seen with Knapsack and Staff (2 vols, New York). This book's success brought Taylor recognition as an author. He was asked to serve as an editorial assistant for Graham's Magazine for a few months in 1848. That same year, Horace Greeley, then editor of the Tribune, placed Taylor on his staff, thus securing Taylor a certain if moderate income.
His poem "Greetings to America" was set to music by Julius Benedict and performed by the singer at numerous concerts on her tour of the United States.
His interest in poetry was coached by the influential critic and editor Rufus Wilmot Griswold, who encouraged him to write a volume of poetry. Published at Philadelphia in 1844, Ximena, or the Battle of the Sierra Morena, and other Poems was dedicated to Griswold. It made little income, but indirectly was a means of his introduction to The New York Tribune.
With the money from his poetry and an advance for some journalistic work to be done in Europe, Taylor set sail for Europe. The young poet spent a happy time in roaming on foot through certain districts of England, France, Germany and Italy; this tour of almost two years cost him only £100. The accounts which he sent from Europe to The New York Tribune, The Saturday Evening Post, and The United States Gazette were so highly appreciated that on Taylor's return to America, he was advised to compile his articles into book form.
In 1846, he published Views Afoot, or Europe seen with Knapsack and Staff (2 vols, New York). This book's success brought Taylor recognition as an author. He was asked to serve as an editorial assistant for Graham's Magazine for a few months in 1848. That same year, Horace Greeley, then editor of the Tribune, placed Taylor on his staff, thus securing Taylor a certain if moderate income.
His poem "Greetings to America" was set to music by Julius Benedict and performed by the singer at numerous concerts on her tour of the United States.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 23, 2015
Kevin started this book and thought it was too good not to share. So, instead of watching TV, he is reading it to me. It is truly terrific.
Originally written in 1849, Bayard Taylor tells the story of his trip to California to write about the Gold Rush and the newly formed state. The descriptions of his trip, including the trek through the jungle of Panama and growth of San Francisco, are amazing. And the passages where he describes the countryside of what is now wall-to-wall cities of the Bay Area makes me wish I had seen the country then.
Taylor also WALKS from San Francisco to Monterey so he can be at (and describe for us) the meetings of the Constitutional Convention in Monterey to create the governmental structure for the new state, including the contentious debate about the course of the eastern border of the state. (California might have included a huge chuck of Nevada!)
And, we're only about one third of the way into the book.
Originally written in 1849, Bayard Taylor tells the story of his trip to California to write about the Gold Rush and the newly formed state. The descriptions of his trip, including the trek through the jungle of Panama and growth of San Francisco, are amazing. And the passages where he describes the countryside of what is now wall-to-wall cities of the Bay Area makes me wish I had seen the country then.
Taylor also WALKS from San Francisco to Monterey so he can be at (and describe for us) the meetings of the Constitutional Convention in Monterey to create the governmental structure for the new state, including the contentious debate about the course of the eastern border of the state. (California might have included a huge chuck of Nevada!)
And, we're only about one third of the way into the book.
October 23, 2008
My absolute favorite summer read. the best and most personal history of travelling around California during the gold rush. A must for any California history buffs!
May 24, 2013
I love Bayard Taylor. He travels from place to place, always with a wide-eyed pleasure in what he finds in any place, not dismayed by seasickness, fleas, or being robbed by Mexican bandits. He would have been a splendid traveling companion. And his account of the Bay Area, the Gold Country, and Monterey is breathtaking. His coverage of the Constitutional Convention in no way suffers from the fact that he arrived in Monterey three weeks after it started, having decided to walk from San Francisico. His description of his overland journey from Mazatlan to Vera Cruz is no less fascinating.
His summation of the Convention: "Thus closes the Convention; and I cannot help saying, with Captain Sutter, that the day which sees laid the broad and liberal foundation of a free and independent State on the shores of the Pacific is a great day for California. As an American, I feel proud and happy - proud that the Empire of the West, the commerce of the great Pacific, the new highway to the Indies, forming the last link in that belt of civilized enterprise which now clasps the world, has been established under my country's flag; and happy that in all the extent of California, from the glittering snows of the Shasta to the burning deserts of the Colorado, no slave shall ever lift his arm to make the freedom of that flag a mockery."
One could argue that it's been all going downhill ever since.
His summation of the Convention: "Thus closes the Convention; and I cannot help saying, with Captain Sutter, that the day which sees laid the broad and liberal foundation of a free and independent State on the shores of the Pacific is a great day for California. As an American, I feel proud and happy - proud that the Empire of the West, the commerce of the great Pacific, the new highway to the Indies, forming the last link in that belt of civilized enterprise which now clasps the world, has been established under my country's flag; and happy that in all the extent of California, from the glittering snows of the Shasta to the burning deserts of the Colorado, no slave shall ever lift his arm to make the freedom of that flag a mockery."
One could argue that it's been all going downhill ever since.
August 27, 2023
There are so many terrific reviews and comments on this book that it would be redundant of me to add to the pile. Enjoyed reading this combination of investigative journalism, travel and memoir... and wished it could have gone on for another hundred pages. A five star rating and one that goes straight to my favorites list.
January 4, 2018
I gave this one a pretty good shot, but abandoned it about halfway in. It's a pretty interesting story, but I've read other stories by gold-rush migrants. This one was.... OK. And went on, and on.
Hell with it. You might like it, and here's Tony's more positive review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Hell with it. You might like it, and here's Tony's more positive review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
June 14, 2020
A plus; highly recommended
Contemporary account of California during the gold rush. Also contains an account of travel there and back, plus the official report to the U.S government of an agent.
Contemporary account of California during the gold rush. Also contains an account of travel there and back, plus the official report to the U.S government of an agent.
July 4, 2017
Fantastic book about the author's adventures in California during the beginning of the Gold Rush.
He is a great writer and inspirational historian.
He is a great writer and inspirational historian.
July 6, 2014
This one has been on my "work in progress" shelf for about 10 years. I resolved to finish it this summer and am so glad I did. So interesting to read the impressions of California in the heady days of the Gold Rush. Great descriptions of places (some denigrating remarks about natives - both in California and Mexico that seemed representative of the time, but denigrating nonetheless) that just can't be seen any more. One of my favorite lines was the bit about how impossible it seemed to be to get Congress to accomplish anything. Makes me realize, that its not all that bad and not all that different. The news cycle just makes it seem bigger. Turns out we have a long history of arguing ourselves into perpetual inaction.
July 4, 2016
The fourty niners Pacific coast guide
Bayard Taylor does an excellent job of explaining a traveler's options and possible prudent decisions while going to and from the California gold coast.
Bayard Taylor does an excellent job of explaining a traveler's options and possible prudent decisions while going to and from the California gold coast.
May 1, 2016
E!dorado very good reading
Well written and good reading. A map of California and Mexico are helpful for places and locations named in the book.
Well written and good reading. A map of California and Mexico are helpful for places and locations named in the book.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews