Last modified 02 October 2008
The
The Gold Bug was founded by Art Lassagne in 1962 as a resource for treasure hunters and prospectors. A storefront was opened in Lafayette, California in 1965 selling metal detectors, gold pans, prospecting equipment and books on treasure hunting and related topics. The store moved to Walnut Creek, California in 1969.
In 1971 the store was closed and the Lassagne family moved to Nevada to be closer to old mining and prospecting ghost towns of the West. At that time, the Gold Bug became primarily a mail-order business, publishing the Gold Bug Newsletter, and various related books.
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Publications by Art Lassagne: Metal Detector Handbook, 1963California Pioneer Towns, 1968 The Earthquake Book: Where, When and Why, 1969 Flea Market, 1969 Traveller's Guide to the Comstock Load & California Gold Fields, 1975 Solar Heat for your Home, 1976 |
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In 1974, the Gold Bug moved back to California, but remained a mail order business. Moving from prospecting to research, the Gold Bug's focus changed to early map reproductions and other geographical information, which remains its focus today.
In 1994, the Gold Bug ventured into software publishing with AniMap, an animated county boundary historical atlas. AniMap is used by researchers, genealogists, historians, and individuals interested in the changing boundaries of U.S. counties from Colonial times to the present day. In June 1995 the Gold Bug started its website and an online store to sell early map reproductions, gazetteers, software for historical and genealogical research and other related items.
On September 29, 2008 Art Lassagne passed away. He will be greatly missed.
