Grass Valley Attractions
Nevada County
Location and origin
Grass Valley, some 26mi/42km north of Auburn on the CA 49, gets its name from the time it was founded in 1849 by the first settlers, who unexpectedly found plenty of fodder here for their cattle. They could not have suspected that under the meadows lay the biggest gold deposits in all California. The Empire gold-mine is today the center of Empire Mine Historic Park and is open to visitors. In the 107 years of its existence nearly 6 million ounces of gold have been mined.
In Grass Valley also lived Lola Montez, the lover of King Louis I of Bavaria. The house in which she stayed for a time is to be converted into a museum.
Walking tours
Walking tours in the Empire Mine give the visitor a good impression of the working conditions in a gold-mine. You can go some 40ft/13m down into the shafts, which are lit for a length of 150ft/45m, but which are 367mi/587km long altogether. On a model you can see the direction and depth of the individual veins.
Location and origin
Grass Valley, some 26mi/42km north of Auburn on the CA 49, gets its name from the time it was founded in 1849 by the first settlers, who unexpectedly found plenty of fodder here for their cattle. They could not have suspected that under the meadows lay the biggest gold deposits in all California. The Empire gold-mine is today the center of Empire Mine Historic Park and is open to visitors. In the 107 years of its existence nearly 6 million ounces of gold have been mined.
In Grass Valley also lived Lola Montez, the lover of King Louis I of Bavaria. The house in which she stayed for a time is to be converted into a museum.
Walking tours
Walking tours in the Empire Mine give the visitor a good impression of the working conditions in a gold-mine. You can go some 40ft/13m down into the shafts, which are lit for a length of 150ft/45m, but which are 367mi/587km long altogether. On a model you can see the direction and depth of the individual veins.
Bourn Villa
Bourn Villa in Grass Valley is the villa which belonged to the former owner of the mine.
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
Empire Mine State Historic Park
Hikers will delight in the ten miles of trails at the Empire Mine State Historic Park. There are tours of this site which housed a productive mine during the Gold Rush years. Picnic facilities are in the parking area.
The Empire Mine grounds include a Clubhouse, extensive lawns with fountains, a reflection pool and gardens with a greenhouse.
The Empire Mine grounds include a Clubhouse, extensive lawns with fountains, a reflection pool and gardens with a greenhouse.
Hours
March 1 to December 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November )
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November )
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Parking
Pay
Disabled
Partial facilities for persons with disabilities.
Guides
Guided tour available as optional extra.
Facilities
Gift shop
North Star Mining Museum
The North Star Mining Museum in Grass Valley features a Pelton Wheel, a water wheel that was used to generate electricity. Displays include mining equipment and artifacts from the 1880's.
