NEVADA CITY
HISTORY, MUSEUMS, HISTORY LIBRARIES
T O
D O
Museums
FIREHOUSE NO. 1 MUSEUM: 214 Main St.
Built in 1861, has been named A Haunted
House of California. Known for its Chinese
exhibits. Open May 1–Oct 31
Tuesday–Sunday, 1 pm–4 pm; November
1–April 30 by appointment. (530) 265-3937;
nevadacountyhistory.org
WAYDE CARROLL
MINERS FOUNDRY CULTURAL CENTER: 325
Spring St. Historic building with interpretive
displays covering manufacturing of mining
machinery including the famous Pelton
Wheel. Open Tuesday–Friday, 9 am–4 pm;
Saturday through Monday by appointment.
(530) 265-5040.
DORIS FOLEY LIBRARY FOR HISTORICAL
RESEARCH: 211 North Pine St. Located in a
Carnegie Library building completed in 1907.
Resources dating from early 1850s include
genealogy information and newspapers.
Open: Wednesday–Saturday. Call for hours.
(530) 265-4606; mynevadacounty.com/library
Doris Foley Library
History Libraries
SEARLS HISTORICAL LIBRARY: 161 Nevada
City Hwy., corner of Ridge Road. Historic
books, manuscripts, research material, county assessor records, immigration and naturalization records, over 18,000 catalogued
photographs. Open Monday–Saturday,
1:00 pm–4:00 pm or by appointment.
(530) 265-5910.
ANDREW WRIGHT / LIGHTHAWKPHOTO
N
EVADA CITY WAS FOUNDED as a
mining camp in 1849 and success
was immediate. Men commonly
pulled a pound of gold a day from Deer
Creek, and thousands grew rich in 1850
with the discovery of gold at the Old Coyote
Ravine northeast of town.
Built on Deer Creek, the town grew
quickly. Everyone had money and everybody
spent it. Saloons and gambling establishments lined the streets. After several names
had been used and discarded, the town
chose Nevada, Spanish for snow. “City”
was added later when the state to the east
also chose (some say stole) Nevada.
As the obsession with sudden wealth
began to subside, an air of permanency
took the place of restless change and neighborhoods were established. Nevada City
went on to developed a hardrock mining
industry and although the mines were not
as large or numerous as those in nearby
Grass Valley, they were successful and contributed to the town’s economic strength.
A hardrock mining industry was established,
and although the mines were not as large
or numerous as those in neighboring Grass
Valley, they were successful and contributed
to the town’s economic strength.
T H I N G S
Nevada County
Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum
The Narrow Gauge Railroad opened in 1876 to link area with the transcontinental railroad in Colfax. Artifacts and exhibits. Open May 1–October 31,
Friday–Tuesday, 10:00 am–4:00 pm; November 1–April 30,
Saturday–Sunday, 10:00 am–4:00 pm. 5 Kidder Ct. (530) 470-0902;
NCNGRRMuseum.org
CHRISTMAS AT THE MUSEUM: December 3. 10 am–3 pm. Santa, refreshments, door prizes for children.
SIERRA NARROW GAUGE CONFERENCE: June 9–12. The places, locomotives,
rolling stock and people who kept the Narrow Gauge lines of the foothills
and high ranges of the Sierra Nevada on track.
Nevada County
Narrow Gauge
Railroad Museum
N E VA D A C O U N T Y G O L D . c o m
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