Empire Mine State Historic Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Empire Mine State Historic Park |
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View down the main drift at Empire Mine
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 Empire Mine State Historic Park
Location in California
Empire Mine State Historic Park
Location in the United States
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| Location | Nevada County, California, USA |
| Nearest city | Grass Valley, California |
| Area | 853 acres (345 ha) |
| Established | 1975 |
| Governing body | California Department of Parks and Recreation |
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Empire Mine
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| Area | 777 acres |
| Built | 1896 |
| Architect | Polk, Willis |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000318 |
| Added to NRHP | December 09, 1977 |
Empire Mine State Historic Park is a special place in the Sierra Nevada mountains of Grass Valley, California, USA. It's a protected mine and park. The Empire Mine is very important historically. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a California Historical Landmark. Since 1975, the California Department of Parks and Recreation has taken care of it. The Empire Mine was "one of the oldest, largest, deepest, longest and richest gold mines in California." From 1850 until it closed in 1956, this mine produced a huge amount of gold. Miners dug out 5.8 million ounces of gold from 367 miles of underground tunnels!
Contents
The Mine's Golden Beginning
In October 1850, a man named George Roberts found gold in a rock on Ophir Hill. He sold his claim in 1851. Later, the Woodbury Company bought several local claims. They named their mine the Ophir Hill Mine.
However, the Woodbury Company had money problems. In 1852, they had to sell their business. John P. Rush and the Empire Quartz Hill Co. bought it. The Empire Mining Co. was officially started in 1854.
Cornish Miners and New Technology
When people heard about the gold in California, miners from Cornwall, England, came to help. They were experts in hard rock mining. They brought important skills and tools.
One key invention was the Cornish engine. This steam-powered machine helped pump water out of the mine. It removed about 18,000 gallons of water every day! This allowed miners to dig deeper and find more gold.
Later, in 1895, a water wheel designed by Lester Allan Pelton provided electricity. This powered the mine and the machines that crushed the gold ore. Cornish miners made up most of the workforce from the late 1870s until the mine closed.
New Owners and Growth
William Bowers Bourn took control of the company in 1869. After he passed away in 1874, his family ran the mine.
His son, William Bowers Bourn II, started the Original Empire Co. in 1878. He continued mining the Ophir vein. With his money and the help of his cousin George W. Starr, the Empire Mine became famous. It was known for its advanced mining technology.
Bourn bought the North Star Mine in 1884. He made it a big gold producer. Then, he sold it in 1887. A year later, he sold most of his share in the Empire Mine too.
Bourn's Return and the "Cottage"
William Bourn bought back control of the Empire Mine in 1896. He formed the Empire Mines and Investment Co. In 1897, he asked Willis Polk to design a special house. This house, called the "Cottage," was built using rocks from the mine.
The "Cottage" had a greenhouse, gardens, fountains, and a reflecting pool. Between 1898 and 1905, a clubhouse was built nearby. It had tennis courts, a bowling alley, and squash courts.
In 1910, the Empire Mine started using a cyanide plant. This made it easier to get gold from the ore. Bourn also bought two nearby mines in 1915. This gave the Empire Mines access to more gold veins.
The Mine Changes Hands Again
In 1928, the Newmont Mining Corp. bought the Empire Mine from Bourn. Newmont also bought the North Star Mine. This created a new company called Empire-Star Mines, Ltd.
War and Closure
During World War II, the US government decided gold mines were not essential. So, the Empire Mine had to shut down from 1942 to 1945. After the war, there weren't enough skilled miners. Operations below 4,600 feet had to stop by 1951.
By the 1950s, the cost of mining gold was too high. The mine was not making enough money. In 1956, a miners' strike over wages finally ended operations. Ellsworth Bennett was the last manager of the Empire Mine. He oversaw its closing on May 28, 1957. The last water pumps were turned off and removed. In its final year, the mine had reached a depth of 11,007 feet.
Becoming a State Park
In 1974, California State Parks bought the surface property of the Empire Mine. They paid $1.25 million to create a state historic park. The park now covers 853 acres, including forests. Newmont Mining still owns the mineral rights. They also own 47 acres in case they ever decide to reopen the mine.
Geology of the Gold Veins
The area around the mine has a large body of rock called Granodiorite. This rock is about 5 miles long and up to 2 miles wide. Gold deposits are found in quartz veins within this rock. These veins contained a lot of gold, from 3 to 7 ounces per ton of rock.
The Empire Vein appears on the surface to the east. It goes north to south and dips down at a 35-degree angle to the west. Miners followed this angle with inclined shafts. They also dug horizontal tunnels (drifts) every 300 to 400 feet. The gold ore was removed by a method called stoping.
Museum and Park Activities
On weekends from May to October, volunteers give special tours. They dress in old-fashioned Edwardian clothes. They show visitors the Bourn Cottage, which was William Bourn Jr.'s country home from the 1890s. They also demonstrate how the mine used to work.
The park's museum has a model of the mine's underground tunnels. You can see samples of gold ore from local mines. There's also a recreated Assay Office, where they tested the gold. The park also has 13 acres of beautiful gardens to explore.
The Sierra Gold Park Foundation helps the park with its educational goals. They get money from donations, gift shop sales, and memberships. They also have many active volunteers who help make the park a great place to visit.
Images for kids
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Mule hauling an ore car in 1910
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Shift change in 1900
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Geologic cross section showing the relationship of the Empire and North Star Veins
