Knight Foundry, Industrial foundry in Sutter Creek, California
Knight Foundry is a metal factory in Sutter Creek containing machinery and equipment that date back to the 1870s. The facility uses a water-powered system to operate the various tools and presses needed for production.
The factory opened in 1873 and produced machinery for mining, power generation, timber processing, and farming. Over the 20th century, operations wound down, but the original equipment remained in place and was never removed.
The place demonstrates metalworking methods that are rarely seen anywhere else today. Visitors can observe how the site preserves and explains the way workers labored in earlier times.
The site is closed most days, but visitors can take tours on certain dates throughout the year. It is best to check ahead to find when the facility is open for public access.
The facility still runs on a large water wheel that is one of only a few of its kind in operation. This wheel powers the different machines and shows how earlier factories worked without electric motors.
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