H70.142.21

• california gold rush

Candlestick. Description: Tin candlestick, black, with candle. Green sheet: Saucer candle holder. White sheet: Candlestick, with candle. From the History Information Station: On the frontier, windows- with or without glass- were the main source of light in private homes. After dark, people carried candles to light the way to the bedroom or barn. Candles were carried in lanterns, like the one on the top shelf in the pantry in this exhibit, or in candle holders. Since candlelight was not very strong, candles were rarely used simply to light a room where people were sitting. In a house lit only by candles people usually went to bed when it got too dark to see. Though not shown here, a house like this one would have contained one or two oil lamps, which cast a steadier light than candles and allowed people to stay up a bit after dark.