Empire Mine State Historic Park

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Parks

California

Nearby: Condon Park Devere Mautino Community Park

Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Empire Mine State Historic Park is a historical site located in Grass Valley, California.

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Summary

It was once the largest and richest gold mine in California, producing 5.8 million ounces of gold from 1850 to 1956. Today, it is a popular tourist attraction and one of the premier mining history sites in the US.

Visitors to Empire Mine State Historic Park can take a guided tour of the mine or explore the historic buildings and gardens on their own. The park also offers hiking trails, picnic areas, and a museum with exhibits on the mine's history.

Some of the most popular points of interest at Empire Mine State Historic Park include the main mine yard, the Bourne Cottage, the Assay Office, and the Cottage Gardens. Visitors can also see the mine's original headframe, which stands over 70 feet tall.

The best time of year to visit Empire Mine State Historic Park is in the spring or fall when the weather is mild and the gardens are in bloom. Summertime can be hot and crowded, and the park is closed in the winter months.

Interesting facts about Empire Mine State Historic Park include that it was owned by William Bourn Jr., one of San Francisco's wealthiest men, and that the mine employed over 5,000 people at its peak. The mine also played a significant role in California's early mining history and helped to shape the state's economy.

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.

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