Exploring the Dahlonega Gold Museum, Gold Mines, & More
Did you know that Georgia was home to the first major gold rush in US history? Visit the Dahlonega Gold Museum to learn all about it. Then go check out a historic gold mine and try gold panning for yourself.
The Dahlonega Gold Museum State Historic Site is located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in northern Georgia. It tells the story of the Georgia Gold Rush of 1829, which led to a massive influx of treasure-seekers on Cherokee land and ultimately caused the Trail of Tears.
The museum is quite small, and you can visit it in an hour (or maybe two, if you take your time). But it is full of fascinating historical information and is the perfect start to your exploration of the gold mining town.
Keep reading to hear all about this state historic site . . . and about where you can tour historic gold mines in Dahlonega! From gold panning to gem mining to an underground mine tour, Dahlonega has it all.
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Dahlonega Gold Museum: Basic Facts
- Address: 1 Public Square N, Dahlonega, GA 30533
- Entry fee: $8.50 for adults with reduced rates for seniors ($8) and youth ($6); children 6 and under are free
- Opening hours: 9:00 am – 4:45 pm (Monday to Saturday); 10:00 am – 4:45 pm (Sunday)
- Accessible: partially (first floor only)
The Dahlonega Gold Museum State Historic Site is a small two-story museum located in the old Lumpkin County Courthouse (built in 1836). There are exhibits on the ground floor, and then more exhibits and a feature film on the second floor.
There is no elevator because the building cannot be modified due to its historic status (more about that below). For the same reason, there are no restrooms. Free public restrooms are across the street at the Dahlonega Visitors Center.
In order to access the second floor of the museum, you will need to ascend two flights of stairs. I provide more information about what is located on each floor below.
Parking: Free public parking is available around the square. If those spots are full, drive down the side streets. We found a parking space on North Park Street next to Hancock Park. It was only a few minutes’ walk from the museum.
Location: Dahlonega is only an hour’s drive from Atlanta, which makes it an excellent candidate for a day trip. Just follow U.S. Highway 19 north until you reach Dahlonega.
History of the Georgia Gold Rush
The Georgia Gold Rush is a fascinating and tragic period of American history. Many people struck it rich, but many others – principally the Cherokee – suffered greatly because of the discovery of gold.
I will give a brief overview of the Gold Rush here. But if you are a history buff, I strongly recommend that you read David Williams’ The Georgia Gold Rush: Twenty-Niners, Cherokees, and Gold Fever.
This book goes into the details of what happened in the north Georgia mountains. I learned so much about gold mining and how it impacted the Cherokee, white settlers, and the entire state of Georgia.
(Not interested in reading about Gold Rush history? Jump down to my sections on the museum and the gold mines.)
Gold on Cherokee Land
Dahlonega and all of the surrounding land belonged to the Cherokee, but in the 1800s the State of Georgia became more and more determined to evict the rightful owners. When gold was discovered near present-day Dahlonega in 1829, it signaled the beginning of the end for the Cherokee.
Miners and prospectors converged on the north Georgia mountains. It was the first major gold rush in U.S. history and no one knew quite how to respond. Eventually the State of Georgia decided to regulate the chaos with a land lottery. White men over 18 and select white women could enter their names for a chance to win 160-acre land lots or 40-acre gold lots.
The Cherokee fought bitterly to keep their ancestral territory, but Georgia – aided by President Andrew Jackson – refused to honor past treaties. Ultimately the Cherokee were driven west on the devastating Trail of Tears in 1838.
To this day, the north Georgia mountains still bear witness to their original inhabitants. For example, the name “Dahlonega” is an English version of “Da-lo-ni-ge” (ᏓᎶᏂᎨ), which means “yellow” in Cherokee.
(If you want to learn more about the Cherokee in Georgia, check out my post on the short-lived Cherokee capital of New Echota. This is another great Georgia historic site to visit.)
The Legacy of Georgia Gold
Georgia gold is unusually pure, averaging 95%. This level of purity ramped up the gold fever even more. At first miners had a lot of success, and a U.S. branch mint was even established in Dahlonega to turn the large amounts of gold into coins.
But as the years went by gold became harder and harder to find. You couldn’t just pan in the streams anymore or find nuggets in the woods. Companies started using hydraulic pumps and then digging into the mountains to reach gold veins. More and more advanced equipment (and thus more money) was needed.
Big mining companies ran large operations. Miners worked dangerous and grueling jobs in narrow tunnels. Eventually, by the early 20th century, almost everyone had given up. Finding gold cost more than the gold itself.
Memories of Georgia gold remain in the popular imagination . . . and on the Georgia State Capitol. The dome has 43 ounces of Dahlonega gold. Next time you drive by Atlanta, make sure you take a look!
Some people still believe in the bounty of the Georgia mountains. To this day, enthusiasts still mine in the area (more about this below). Maybe one day there will be another major strike, but until then, Dahlonega is a small tourist town.
History of the Dahlonega Gold Museum
Dahlonega is a gold-rush town. It sprang up suddenly in 1833 and became the seat of the newly founded Lumpkin County. The county seat needed a respectable courthouse, so in 1836 they constructed the Lumpkin County Courthouse in the center of the Dahlonega square.
This imposing red-brick building is the oldest of Georgia’s many historic courthouses. There are two stories, including a lovely white-columned porch overlooking the square. The red bricks are locally sourced, so if the lighting cooperates, you can see gold dust sparkling in the clay.
The courthouse served Dahlonega for over 100 years, from 1836 to 1965. In 1849, it was the site of assayer Matthew Stephenson’s dramatic attempt to stop Georgia miners from heading to the California Gold Rush.
According to tradition, Stephenson stood on the courthouse steps, waved his hand at a nearby ridge, and shouted, “There’s gold in them thar hills!” Alas, this attempt to convince miners to stay in Dahlonega failed.
Stephenson’s famous words aren’t accurate, anyway. What he actually said was, “Why go to California? In that ridge lies more gold than man ever dreamt of. There’s millions in it.”
The gold rush days are past. Now the old courthouse houses the Dahlonega Gold Museum and tells the story of the region. I advise you to visit the museum before you explore the rest of Dahlonega. It will help you to understand what you are seeing!
Exhibits at the Dahlonega Gold Museum
On the first floor is the information desk, a gift shop, and several exhibits. This is where the rangers and volunteers are, if you have any questions or would like a tour. (Tours run based on the availability of guides.)
The day we were there short tours were running a few times an hour. We didn’t find the tour particularly helpful, and we had more fun going through the exhibits on our own – but everyone has their own preferences.
Dahlonega Gold Museum: First Floor
The first floor gives an introduction to the Gold Rush. You learn about the geological forces that led to the precious metal being deposited in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Then there are exhibits on the discovery of gold in Dahlonega, the consequences for the Cherokee, and the land lottery that divided up Cherokee land.
A side room on the first floor is focused on the Dahlonega mint. If you like rare coins, this is the room for you! There is a complete set of the gold coins minted at Dahlonega on display, as well as a large gold nugget.
Dahlonega Gold Museum: Second Floor
To reach the second floor, you climb up two flights of steps and end up on the porch balcony of the courthouse. Take a moment to look out at the square and admire the small town charm. See if you can spot the golden roof of the UNG Price Memorial Hall through the trees.
Once you have taken a good look, head back inside. The exhibits on the second floor focus on the lives of the miners. You can see real gold pans and equipment, including a hydraulic drill and a model of a stamp mill.
The second floor also has exhibits on the building’s function as a courthouse. You can peek into the judge’s study and the jury room and then sit down on old wooden chapel pews to watch a feature film.
This film – 17 minutes long – is a fantastic introduction to the history of Dahlonega. Subtitles are provided. If possible, I would recommend watching the film first and then exploring the museum.
NOTE: If you are not able to climb up to the second floor, you can view the film in advance on YouTube. There is also a TV screen on the first floor where you can press a button to watch the film, but you would have to hang out in the hallway to do so.
For more about the Dahlonega Gold Museum, you can visit the Georgia State Parks website.
Gold Mining in Modern Dahlonega
The gold rush is past, but that doesn’t mean the riches of the land are forgotten. To this day the local newspaper is called the Dahlonega Nugget. More importantly, locals and visitors can still try their hand at gold mining.
Do you want to pan for gold? How about tour an old gold mine? Then Dahlonega is perfect for you.
Once there were mines all over Lumpkin County. Today, only two are open to the public: the Consolidated Gold Mine and the Crisson Gold Mine. Both are within 5 minutes’ drive of the Dahlonega Gold Museum.
Consolidated Gold Mine
Address: 185 Consolidated Gold Mine Rd, Dahlonega, GA 30533
The Consolidated only operated from 1899 to 1906, but during its time it was the largest mine east of the Mississippi River. Miles of tunnels stretch underground, some of which you can explore.
The Consolidated’s basic experience (just over $20 per person) includes a 40-minute guided tour of the historic mine and gold panning. Each visitor gets one pan of sand from the nearby Chestatee River; you learn how to pan and then get to keep any gold you find.
We loved the underground mine tour. Our guide, Hard Hat Mike, managed to pack in so much fascinating information and tell lots of jokes. He was especially great with the children, making sure everyone was engaged in the tour.
Take the tour and learn about the miners’ lives. You will be thankful that you don’t have to do their job!
For more about the Consolidated Gold Mine’s options, visit their website. Note that the tour is not accessible, since it requires you to descend and ascend stairs and potentially slippery slopes.
Crisson Gold Mine
Address: 2736 Morrison Moore Pkwy E, Dahlonega, GA 30533
The Crisson Gold Mine first opened back in 1847 and it is the only remaining operational mine in Dahlonega. For most of its history it has been an open pit mine, which means that they extract gold-bearing quartz from a pit and then crush it for panning.
For about $15, you can take a self-guided tour of the Crisson Gold Mine. You can’t enter the open pit itself, but you can see antique mining equipment, including a 130-year-old functioning stamp mill. This mill was used to mine some of the gold on the Georgia State Capitol!
The $15 entry fee also includes gold panning (one pan per person) and gem mining (one bucket per person). The ore for panning comes from Crisson itself, while the gems come from North Carolina.
Crisson also sells ore from their mine in large quantities. Some people regularly buy buckets or even truckloads, hoping to strike it rich. You can come and spend hours sifting through the ore in search of that elusive gold.
PRO TIP: If you are going to Crisson after visiting the Dahlonega Gold Museum, make sure you grab one of the Crisson pamphlets from the museum. There is a coupon included on the back.
Visit Crisson’s website to learn more about their options.
Consolidated vs. Crisson
Both mines have many happy customers. If you only have time for one, which should you visit? It really depends on what you are looking for.
Do you want to explore old mining tunnels and get an in-depth introduction to miners, their equipment, and their lives? Then head to Consolidated for their guided underground mine tour.
Are you interested in spending a day panning for gold with your family? Go to Crisson, where you can purchase bucketloads of sand and rent various types of equipment, from simple pans to trommels.
Both Consolidated and Crisson offer gem mining. This can be lots of fun for kids, but to be honest I don’t see the attraction of looking through pre-selected gems. The gold panning has the advantage of being more authentic – and more exciting.
Both mines also have gift shops and can make your finds into custom jewelry.
Other Gold-related Sites in Dahlonega
Dahlonega revolved around gold mining, so it is unsurprising that little reminders of the Gold Rush linger everywhere. Here are two other interesting gold-related historic sites.
HollyJoe28, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Price Memorial Hall
Address: Georgia Circle, Dahlonega, GA 30597
Price Memorial Hall, built in 1879, is the oldest building on the University of North Georgia’s campus. The hall stands on the former location of the Dahlonega U.S. Branch Mint, which closed in the 1860s in the turmoil of the civil war.
The steeple bears 13 ounces of Dahlonega gold, and it draws visitors’ eyes from far and wide. We saw the gold glittering as we drove into Dahlonega. As I mentioned up above, you can also see the steeple from the upper porch of the Dahlonega Gold Museum.
Price Memorial Hall serves as the administrative center of the University of North Georgia. It was added to the U.S. Register of Historic Places in 1972.
Chestatee River Diving Bell
Address: 8 Warwick Street, Dahlonega, GA 30533
In Hancock Park, a few minutes’ walk from the Dahlonega square, you can visit the Chestatee River Diving Bell. The historic bell is protected by a pavilion and accompanied by interpretive signage.
In 1875, a wealthy entrepreneur named P.H. Loud decided to mine the gold at the bottom of the Chestatee River. He designed an open-bottomed “diving bell” and got to work. First the bell was lowered to the bottom of the river and the water was forced out. Miners then descended through the airlock to shovel up gold-bearing sand from the river bottom.
P.H. Loud’s idea was brilliant, but ultimately unsuccessful. The diving bell sank under mysterious circumstances in 1876 and it was only in 1981 that the community fished it out of the river. Today it remains as a testimony to one of the stranger attempts to find gold.
Plan Your Visit To Dahlonega
Today Dahlonega is a cute college town with charming shops and eateries. It is home to about 7,000 people and several educational institutions, including the University of North Georgia.
It’s hard to imagine that Dahlonega was once the center of a rough-and-tumble mining district. But when you explore the sites, the Georgia Gold Rush comes to life again. Start at the Gold Museum and then head to Consolidated or Crisson (or even visit both!).
Dahlonega’s location in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains means that it is also a great place for hiking, zip lining, kayaking, and other outdoor activities. You won’t run out of things to do here . . . and who knows, maybe you will find some gold.
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