List of Gold Rush Mines and Museums
List of Gold Rush Mines and Museums
These museums, most of which are the sites of retired mines, offer information regarding the California Gold Rush. This is only a partial list.
Marshall Gold Discovery Museum
310 Back Street
Coloma, CA 95613
(530) 622-3470
Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park
https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=484
Ground zero for the California Gold Rush. Park offers historic spots of interest, thorough mining history displays, and a panning experience.
Malakoff Diggins State Park
23579 N. Bloomfield Road
Nevada City, CA 95959
(530) 265-2740
Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park
https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=494
The site of the North Bloomfield mine and its environs, including a small museum in the old townsite. Be careful charting a road trip to the park to avoid a 4WD road.
See also “Historic Hard Rock Mine Museums” for information regarding old hard rock mines (Empire, Kennedy, Gold Bug).
Other sites of interest, listed from north to south, include:
The Gold Rush Museum
601 Lincoln Way
Auburn, CA 95603
(530) 889-650
Facilities • The Gold Rush Museum
https://www.placer.ca.gov/facilities/facility/details/thegoldrushmuseum-81
The Gold Rush Museum | Visit Placer
https://www.visitplacer.com/the-gold-rush-museum/
Small but complete history museum, with panning experience available.
Sacramento History Museum
101 I Street
Sacramento, CA 95814-2204
(916) 808-7059
History of Sacramento region in general, with much Gold Rush related content, including a monitor.
Columbia State History Park
11255 Jackson Street
Columbia, CA 95310
(209) 588-9128
https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=552
Preserved gold rush town, though with some modern services.
California State Mining & Mineral Museum
5005 Fairground Road
Mariposa, CA 95338
(209) 742-7625
California State Mining and Mineral Museum Park Property
https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=588
Thorough museum of California Gold Rush history, with some unique artifacts.
And in the San Francisco Bay Area:
New Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museum
21350 Almaden Road
San Jose, CA 95120
(408) 918-7770
Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museum | Santa Clara County Parks | County of Santa Clara
https://parks.santaclaracounty.gov/learn/visit-historic-sites/almaden-quicksilver-mining-museum
Site of largest mercury mine in California, critical to Gold Rush.
