The Case:
A viewer from Colorado thinks he may have discovered a gem of Gold Rush memorabilia when he found an unusual drawing.
This drawing depicts four huge gold nuggets, weighing one, two, six and ten pounds. Someone has overlaid the nuggets with curious, almost cartoon-like pictures: a bag of gold dust, a scowling turtle, a Colt revolver, and the profile of a man’s grinning face. The signature, I.W. Baker, catches our contributor’s eye.
Could this be the Isaac Baker famous for his photographs of the Gold Rush? And did miners actually find gold nuggets that large? History Detectives visits Baker’s haunts in California and talks with Gold Rush curators to reveal the story behind this drawing.
Drawings and Photographs by Isaac Baker
Related Content
Related Links
Explore
-
Also with Wes Cowan Camp David Letter Could a box found in a dumpster hold information about the founding of a top-secret Presidential retreat?
-
Also with Wes Cowan Texas Servant Girl Murders Years before Jack the Ripper, did a serial killer walk the streets of Austin, TX?
-
Related Investigation Internment Artwork What is the story behind these watercolor paintings of a prison camp?
-
Also in Season 9 Teddy Roosevelt War Club What could this strange object have to do with Teddy Roosevelt and his run for a third term presidency?
-
Also in Season 9 African American Comic Book Did the makers of this 1950s comic book have more than romance on their minds?
-
Also with Wes Cowan Bob Dylan Guitar Is this the guitar Bob Dylan played at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965?
Comments
This is a place for opinions, comments, questions and discussion; a place where viewers of History Detectives can express their points of view and connect with others who value history. We ask that posters be polite and respectful of all opinions. History Detectives reserves the right to delete comments that don’t conform to this conduct. We will not respond to every post, but will do our best to answer specific questions, or address an error.