Bonnie Angela Jewelry
Find BONNIE ANGELA JEWELRY at Ivy’s Gifts from the Vine in historic downtown Dahlonega, Georgia. Dahlonega is located at the north end of Georgia 400, which connects Dahlonega to Atlanta. Site of the first major U.S. Gold Rush and the Heart of Georgia Wine Country, Dahlonega, Georgia is an authentic, mountain getaway only an hour north of Atlanta.
In 1828 Dahlonega was the site of the first major gold rush in the United States. The Dahlonega Gold Museum Historic Site stands in the middle of the town square, housed in the 1836 Lumpkin County Courthouse. From its steps in 1849, Dahlonega Mint assayor Dr. M. F. Stephenson tried to persuade miners to stay in Dahlonega instead of joining the California Gold Rush, saying, "There's millions in it," often misquoted as "There's gold in them thar hills."
Dahlonega is home to the main campus of the University of North Georgia.
In the 1820s, Dahlonega became the site of the second significant gold rush in the US and became a boom town of the Georgia Gold Rush.
The area of Dahlonega was home to many Creek and Cherokee. There are few Creek and Cherokee descendants in Dahlonega today. Most of the descendants are Cherokee of mixed race. Names such as Corn, Davis, Chambers, Dover, Chattin, and Bird are associated with these lines of Cherokee blood. Surnames like Thrasher are of Creek blood. The Cherokee called the area Da-lo-ni-ge, which means "yellow" from the Cherokee Language.
George Featherstonhough, an English geologist who visited the town in 1837, observed that the courthouse, designed by Ephriam Clayton, was built upon a broad expanse of hornblende slate "and that the soil of the public square was impregnated with small specks of gold." The courthouse building was paid for in part with gold bullion. It was made of bricks likely made locally, although possibly transported from Augusta. The foundation stone and timber were obtained locally.
Numerous gold mines were illegally developed in the area. Miners, entering illegally into the Cherokee Nation lands, came into conflict with the Cherokee, whose territory they had trespassed. The Cherokee lands were defined by the treaty between the Federal Government and the Cherokee Nation in the Treaty of Washington 1819. The miners raised political pressure against the Cherokee because they wanted to get the gold. The Federal Government forced the Native Americans west of the Mississippi River to Oklahoma on the Trail of Tears during Indian Removal.
Dahlonega was founded two years before the Treaty of New Echota 1835, which made its founding a violation of the Treaty of Washington of 1819.
The United States Mint built a branch mint there, which it operated from 1838 to 1861. The Dahlonega Mint, like the one established in 1838 in Charlotte, North Carolina, only minted gold coins, in denominations of $1.00, $2.50 (quarter eagle), $3.00 (1854 only) and $5.00 (half eagle). It was cost effective in consideration of the economics, time, and risk of shipping gold to the main mint in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Dahlonega Mint was a small operation, usually accounting for only a small fraction of the gold coinage minted annually in the US.
The government decided against re-opening the facility after the Civil War. By then, the U.S. government had established a mint in San Francisco, California. Given the large amount of gold discovered in California from the late 1840s on, that one handled the national needs of gold minting.
As a result, surviving Dahlonega coinage is today highly prized in American numismatics. The mint building burned in 1878. North Georgia College built Price Memorial Hall on its foundation. The building has a gold-leaf steeple to refer to the history of the site.
In recent years, Dahlonega and Lumpkin County have been recognized as "the heart of the North Georgia Wine Country". The county features multiple vineyards and five licensed wineries that attract many tourists.
The historic Dahlonega Square is also a popular destination, with gift shops, restaurants, art galleries and studios, and wine tasting rooms. In 2015, Senator Steve Gooch introduced Georgia Senate Resolution 125 officially recognizing Lumpkin County as the Wine Tasting Room Capital of Georgia.
The city's local festivals draw many visitors. "Bear on the Square", an annual three-day festival held the third weekend in April, marks the day that a black bear wandered onto the square. It features bluegrass and old-time music. "Gold Rush Days", an annual two-day event the third weekend in October, attracts over 200,000 people.
The city's local festivals draw many visitors. "Bear on the Square", an annual three-day festival held the third weekend in April, marks the day that a black bear wandered onto the square. It features bluegrass and old-time music. "Gold Rush Days", an annual two-day event the third weekend in October, attracts over 200,000 people.
Dahlonega is home to the Holly Theatre.
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Look for our BONNIE ANGELA JEWELRY at Ivy’s Gifts from the Vine in historic downtown Dahlonega, Georgia and at select boutiques throughout the United States and follow us online.
Ivy's Gifts from the Vine
Look for our BONNIE ANGELA JEWELRY at Ivy’s Gifts from the Vine in historic downtown Dahlonega, Georgia and at select boutiques throughout the United States and follow us online.
Ivy's Gifts from the Vine
BONNIE ANGELA
Adventurously American Made
[Hand Hammered • Nickel Free • Lead Free • Non-Allergy]
Adventurously American Made
[Hand Hammered • Nickel Free • Lead Free • Non-Allergy]
