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Free Traveling Guides » States » California » Gold Country
Grass Valley
Grass Valley, California is home to a population of over 12,000, located in Nevada County, and rich with the history and tradition of one of California’s greatest mining communities. Lore has it that the town was named after early settlers watched their cattle remove themselves from their Greenhorn Creek campsite to a grassy valley nearby that seemed more suitable for grazing purposes. The discovery of gold in 1850 started a boom that transformed the town. The town went through a series of names including Boston Ravine and Centerville before arriving at the Grass Valley permanent moniker. Today, visitors to Mill St. and the heart of Grass Valley can experience the retained flavor and ambience of the gold rush era.
There is no shortage of things to do in Grass Valley. Tourists can visit the North Star Mining Museum, which houses displays of mining equipment and mining artifacts from the 1800s. Also for mining enthusiasts is the Empire Mine State Historic Park, which lays claim to being the oldest (as well as the richest) hardrock gold mine in California history. The Grass Valley Museum was a former convent, as well as a school and an orphanage throughout its rich history. It was built in 1865, and features a wealth of memorabilia from early Grass Valley. The Imaginarium is an innovative and interactive science museum, with exhibits and displays for children and children at heart. Three to twelve day wilderness hikes are even available from a local company, which uses well trained, gentle llamas to carry supplies with your party.
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