In 1799, a 12-year-old boy named Conrad Reed discovered a 17-pound yellow rock in Little Meadow Creek on his family's farm in Cabarrus County, North Carolina. The rock served as a doorstop for three years until his father, John Reed, a former Hessian soldier, learned it was gold. This accidental discovery marked the first documented gold find in the United States, sparking the North Carolina Gold Rush—decades before California's.

John Reed capitalized on the find, forming mining partnerships and eventually uncovering even larger nuggets, including a 28-pound one. His farm became the Reed Gold Mine, which led North Carolina to become the nation's leading gold producer until 1848. Today, the site is a National Historic Landmark, offering tours and gold panning experiences.