Empire Mine State Historic Park is a state-protected mine and park in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in Grass Valley, California, USA. The Empire Mine is on the National Register of Historic Places, a federal Historic District, and a California Historical Landmark. Since 1975 California State Parks has administered and maintained the mine as a historic site. The Empire Mine is “one of the oldest, largest, deepest, longest and richest gold mines in California.” Between 1850 and its closure in 1956, the Empire Mine produced 5.8 million ounces of gold, extracted from 367 miles (591 km) of underground passages.

William Bowers Bourn II, who reacquired control of the Empire Mine in 1896, formed the Empire Mines and Investment Co. In 1897, he commissioned Willis Polk to build the “Cottage”, using waste rock from the mine. The “Cottage” included a greenhouse, gardens, fountains and a reflecting pool. Between 1898 and 1905, a clubhouse with tennis courts, bowling alley and squash courts were built nearby.

This photo is of one of several fountains throughout the estate grounds.

EXIF Data

Camera Type: Nikon D3100
Lens: 18.0-55.0 mm f/3.5-5.6
Date Taken: 4/13/2013
Aperture: f/5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/125
ISO: 100
Exposure Mode: Manual
Focal Length: 55.0
White Balance: Auto
Metering Mode: Center Weight
Light Source (In Camera): N/A
Flash: Compulsory Mode
Light Source (External): Early afternoon light
Size 997 KB
Location: 10791 East Empire Street, Grass Valley, California
Latitude: 39,12.2376N
Longitude: 121,2.5172W
Elevation: 817.91 m