Picturesque Shasta County, located at the northern end of California's Sacramento Valley, is known for its colorful history, abundant natural beauty, and unlimited recreational opportunities. First home to native tribes such as the Wintu and Yana, Shasta County was officially established in 1850, and fur trappers, cattle ranchers, and miners, lumber mills, copper smelters, and railroads soon made their indelible mark on the landscape. The region's story continued to unfold throughout the 20th century as its many lakes, parks, rivers, and the snow-capped peak of Mt. Shasta glistening in the distance welcomed visitors and enticed many to make Shasta County home.

Archival images help trace the history of the Shasta Nation, profiling the people, places, and events that have shaped its development.

When The World Rushed In was first published in 1981, the Washington Post predicted, “It seems unlikely that anyone will write a more comprehensive book about the Gold Rush.” Twenty years later, no one has emerged to contradict that judgment, and the book has gained recognition as a classic. As the San Francisco Examiner noted, “It is not often that a work of history can be said to supplant every book on the same subject that has gone before it.” Through the diary and letters of William Swain--augmented by interpolations from more than five hundred other gold seekers and by letters sent to Swain from his wife and brother back home--the complete cycle of the gold rush is recreated: the overland migration of over thirty thousand men, the struggle to “strike it rich” in the mining camps of the Sierra Nevadas, and the return home through the jungles of the Isthmus of Panama. In a new preface, the author reappraises our continuing fascination with the “gold rush experience” as a defining epoch in western--indeed, American--history.

This beautiful, full-color book paints two pictures: a portrait of the many faces and moods of Mount Shasta and a human mosaic of writings by, interviews with, and pictures of people who have many diverse perspectives on this magnificent landmark Those who hold this incomparable book in their hands will see awesome storm clouds, rainbows, and brilliant sunny days. They will hear from people whose words reflect many perspectives on the mountain. The authors share their view of Mt. Shasta as a sacred place, where heaven and earth do meet and form a very special union.