So, what's not to like about old, rusty mining equipment and mounds of toxic tailings lurking in a beautiful forest? At Empire Mine State Historical Park, which is, oh, around 12 minutes from here, one can experience the agony and ecstasy of Gold Rush country with which we're surrounded.
The park is a microcosm of the historical and environmental legacy of the gold mining business in this area. The Empire Mine operated from 1850 until 1956, becoming the richest mining operation in California (Grass Valley's erstwhile claim to fame). The center of the park is starkly divided between the treeless, gravel-paved industrial site, where the old buildings and equipment are located, and the gorgeous, shady, grand owner's grounds, where you can see the 4600 sq.ft. summer mansion (called the "Cottage", naturally), among other lovely buildings, the extensive lawns, gardens, fountains, greenhouses, and so on.
So, in one visit, it's possible to start in the hot, dusty, rusty, Kansas, side, watch the blacksmiths work and descend into the stifling blackness of the mineshaft, then, just as you think you're too parched to continue, you can shuffle 2 minutes over to Oz--a parallel universe where all is green, cool, filled with the sound of splashing water, and very la-di-dah--and off-limits to miners, of course. Over the top of all that, one has to imagine the constant (24/7) din of the stamp mills, crushing gold ore into dust, a fact which even the beauty of Oz couldn't muffle. Both sides are fascinating. If you come for a visit, we will probably drag you over there.
But, the giant percentage of the 845 acres of EMSHP, is peaceful, natural forest, laced with walking/riding trails. So pretty! Who cares if you stroll past a few rusty old, half-buried mystery machines? It's like seeing the remnants of an ancient civilization. And the forest is slowly reclaiming the huge mounds of ...hey! Why are no trees growing on some of those mounds? Hmm. Perhaps this is why (see sign). It seems the soil biologists testing the, well, soil, decided last year that shoes, hooves and bike tires could kick up a bit more of the arsenic and cyanide than was healthy to inhale. So, two of the trails I tried to follow, ended abruptly at fences.
Nevertheless, the Park is large enough, that there were still plenty of lovely paths to follow, and many more to explore, all with acceptable levels of heavy metals, I assume. I plan to go back often. And vote against the effort to reopen the nearby Idaho-Maryland Mine, which is in the planning stages. 80% of the gold may still be down there, but the price to extract it is more than we can afford. Far more than the measly $1000+/oz they'll get for the gold. Besides, we're all the Gold this area needs, now--ha ha (so sorry about that one).
