Gold fever continues
to burn bright at Empire Mine!
Each year we welcome thousands and thousands of visitors from all over the world. Many come to discover our gritty hard-rock mining history, while others are lured by the splendor of Empire Cottage, with its glorious gardens and fountains.
Empire Mine State Historic Park’s close to 850 acres include miles of scenic trails for hiking, biking, dog walking and horseback riding. Bring a picnic lunch, and enjoy a memorable day at one of the oldest, largest and most prosperous gold mines in North American history.
In the early 1900s, Empire Mine was in its hey days. Stamp mills thundered 24 hours a day. You could set your watch by its haunting whistle that reminded local residents all systems were go at the prosperous Empire Mine.
Open for business from 1850 until its closing in 1956, Empire Mine produced 5.8 million ounces of gold. Miners from Cornwall, England – and all over the world – left their homes to be part of the action.
Under the auspices of owner William Bourn, Jr. and successful mine manager George Starr, Empire Mine changed local, national and world history forever. Today visitors can walk in their footsteps – and experience what life was like in those heady times.
There’s prestigious Empire Cottage, designed by famed architect Willis Polk, and the Clubhouse known for its lavish entertaining. You can stroll through the rose gardens, and marvel at the majestic landscape. A visit to the Mineyard reveals the other side of prosperity. Here’s where shirt sleeves were rolled up for hard work, and mules were an essential source of power. The Machine Shop and Blacksmith Shop were the hubs for maintenance and progress.
A visit to Empire Mine State Park is a legacy of vision, hard work, and wondrous wealth. Tours, a film, artifacts, old mining equipment, factual interpretive panels, and a dramatic model all bring our golden history to life.
You’ll find other evidence on our miles of woodland trails, where nature flourishes, and discovery is part of the fun.
Spend the day, and leave with your own golden memories!
Empire Mine State Park
For more information and directions, visit www.EmpireMine.org
or call 530-273-8522.
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