Grass Valley, Mining town in Nevada County, California
Grass Valley sits in the Sierra Nevada foothills at an elevation of 2,400 feet (735 meters) and covers 4.7 square miles with granitic rock formations. The town preserves gold rush era buildings along its main streets, where period storefronts and mining structures shape the appearance.
The discovery of gold at Gold Hill in 1850 transformed Boston Ravine into Grass Valley, which became incorporated as a city in 1860. The mines attracted Cornish miners who brought their expertise in hard-rock mining and shaped the development until World War II.
The influence of Cornish tin miners remains evident through annual celebrations, traditional pasties, and connections with sister city Bodmin in Cornwall. This tradition stays visible in the townscape and local customs that visitors can experience today.
The Gold Country Stage provides public transportation throughout the urban areas, connecting with major routes including State Route 49 and State Route 20. The town is about an hour's drive from Sacramento and offers parking in the downtown historic district.
The Empire Mine and North Star Mine ranked among California's most productive gold operations until their closure during World War II. Today visitors can tour the Empire Mine as a State Historic Park and see the underground passages and surface facilities.
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