Gold Trails Hotel, Knott's Berry Farm

Built in 1868 now houses a gift store at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park.

The Holiday Season during the early days of the Gold Rush was for many a very harsh, lonely and difficult time to cope with. Miner Elisha Perkins wrote in his diary in 1849: "Oh, how I wish I could spend this day at home, what a ''Merry Christmas'' I would have and what happy faces I should see, instead of the disappointed set around me, Christmas Day was ushered in by the firing of guns...This is about the amount of celebration."

Some miners spent a cold, hungry day together but managed to temporarily dodge the pain by singing old Christmas Carols like "Jingle Bells" or "Away in a Manger." Others lucky enough to make it to a hotel, might splurge for a feast and enjoy the company of others. Occasionally, Preachers who came West in the Gold Rush actually held short Christmas services in saloons or out under trees.