The Sonoran Desert is a hot desert and ecoregion in North America that covers the northwestern Mexican states of Sonora, Baja California, and Baja California Sur, as well as part of Arizona and California.

The California gold rush (1848–1855) began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The news of gold brought approximately 300,000 people to California from the rest of the United States and abroad. The sudden influx of gold into the money supply reinvigorated the American economy; the sudden population increase allowed California to go rapidly to statehood in the Compromise of 1850. The gold rush had a severe impact on Native Americans and accelerated their population's decline from disease, starvation, and the California genocide.

Panning for gold always started at a place selling the equipment for catching the natural debris in flowing water so that the prospector could sort out the gold nuggets from the worthless pebbles.

These young prospectors look excited to try their hand at becoming fabulously wealthy. More than likely, they will only find a few stones which have been coated with gold paint.

Howdy, partner. Looks like you haven't had a decent meal in many moons. I do wish you luck — maybe those kids can give you a few lessons.

Now I wonder what mysteries will befall us in the Mystery Shack. It's kind of spooky since no one else is around here.

Now I see why no one is here. Look at those prices!!! Nine bucks for an adult to get in. Slightly cheaper for seniors and kids, but what mysteries are worth the price of admission?

Continuing to explore, here we see the final resting place of the local inhabitants who are no longer with us — Boot Hill.

This outhouse brought back memories for me. During my childhood, my sisters, my cousins, and I used to play outside around the barns behind our grandmother's and great-grandfather's houses (which were next door to each other). In between the barns was a classic two-hole outhouse which we sometimes used when playing to save the time of going inside to use a modern bathroom. I did take a peek inside this outhouse and found a dummy dressed up like a clown.

Looking up the hill, there was a large building that I initially guessed to be the residence of someone who struck it big in the gold mine.

It sure looked fancy enough, but there is that sign atop the stairway reading "Bordello". If you're not familiar with the word, it means "a house of prostitution". I guess this is how the newly rich miners chose to spend their money.

The sign with the red background reads, "Lulu's Bordello, Museum & Gift Shop, Guided Tours into the History of the Women of the 1800s, Family Friendly, Children Welcome". Interesting.