A few hours from San Francisco sits one of the oldest, deepest, and richest gold mines in the world, dating back to the California Gold Rush. Once a massive mine that was in operation until the 1950s, it is now a historic state park that offers tours to the public.
Empire Mine State Historic Park extracted an impressive 5.8 million ounces of gold during its 100-year operation. Gold was first found in the area on Ophir Hill in 1850, and soon the mine, along with others in California, attracted experienced miners from Cornwall, England, with the promise of gold.
The mine has 367 miles of underground tunnels from the century work, and the entrance to the hundreds of now-abandoned passages is still in the park. The mine had numerous owners, and in 1897, the owner, William Bowers Bourn II, commissioned the “cottage” with a garden, greenhouse, and pool that are still standing today. The mine had a “secret room” that only a handful of people were aware of during the mine’s operation. The room had no windows and contained a miniature model of the 367 tunnels.
Today, the park still has many of the original buildings, including the owner’s home and gardens. The Secret Room, with a model representing 5 miles of the tunnels, is also available for visitors to explore. The park offers 45-minute guided tours, including tours of the estate, gardens, and mineyard, led by volunteers. Aside from the fascinating history, the state park encompasses hundreds of acres and includes 14 miles of hiking trails.
The park is just outside Grass Valley, and is only a short drive from Nevada City, which is known for its numerous historic buildings, including one of the oldest hotels in California.
You can learn more about Empire Mine State Historic Park here. The park is roughly a 2 to 3 hour drive from San Francisco depending on traffic.