Achasta

The city of Dahlonega takes its name from the Cherokee Indian word "Dalonige," meaning "yellow money." It's an apt name, since Dahlonega is home to one of the largest quartz veins that contain gold in the world. With the American discovery of gold in 1828, generally attributed to Dahlonega resident Benjamin Parks, Dahlonega experienced the first gold rush in the nation, topping even California and Colorado. Nearly 15,000 miners rushed to the area by 1829 — in search of what was widely reputed to be the purest gold in the country — and Dahlonega instantly became a boom town and home to a United States Mint Branch. The Mint branch opened in 1838, and until 1861 produced $6 million in gold coins, some of which can be seen at the Dahlonega Gold Museum, housed in the historic Dahlonega Courthouse which was built in 1836.

Many of the tunnels dug by miners in 1829 are still in existence in Dahlonega today. Tourists can visit two mining sites: the Consolidated Gold Mines, which provide tours led by actual miners, and the Crisson Gold Mines, where visitors can pan for gold, search for gems and participate in tours. Woven into the fabric of Dahlonega heritage, the legacy of gold continues to be an integral part of Dahlonega today, leading to Dahlonega's reputation as the golden capital of the South.

Today, Dahlonega and Lumpkin County attract more than two million visitors eager to embrace the mountaineer heritage and rich traditions of this North Georgia Mountain region, full of festivals, events, restaurants, vineyards, shopping, historic sites and the North Georgia College & State University. For more on this historic town, visit www.dahlonega.org.