Gold Rush Days are a celebratory reminder in Dahlonega, Georgia, of the town’s heyday as a gold-rush town. The nation’s first major gold rush was here in 1828, and the area around Dahlonega boomed—a federal mint built in 1838 operated for 23 years and coined more than $6 million. Mining continued into the beginning of the 20th century, and today visitors can pan for gold at several locations. The name of the town is derived from the Cherokee name Talonega, meaning “golden.” The festival includes arts and crafts exhibits, country cooking, and hog-calling contests. Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary