Empire Mine State Historic Park is an amazing complex of historical buildings and structures near Grass Valley.

Once it was the site of the richest​ gold mine.

To get the gold in this area miners could not use standard methods. They used “hardrock” mining that required shafts.
Museum has almost all structures from that epoch. You could almost feel how it to be a miner.

A lot of engineering and manager offices are opened for visitors.


If you are not interesting in mining, there are opportunities to spend a day under the shade of magnificent park.

Or visit formal garden (if it’s a season of course). We were here at the end of November when thin ice covered water in the fountain, and only a few of plants remained.


Or you could check impressive Empire Cottage. It was a cottage of the owner of the mine, Mr. Bourn.


You could imagine how Mr. Bourn guests were entertained​ in the awesome clubhouse. This building is still in use during specials events.