Empire Mine State Historic Park — Attraction in Grass Valley

It was our first time going to the Empire mine and its beautiful estate grounds. The employees (park rangers) were very kind and very helpful right from the start! We are homeschooling so taking the kids on a field trip there was wonderful and highly educational for the kids. Although, the children were disappointed that the museum along with the cottage and the mine shafts on the estate and several other buildings were closed down due to COVID-19, we still had fun exploring the estate and the mining yard. The fountains and reflecting pools are very beautiful along with the gardens which provided us a chance to teach the kids more about plants and vegetation in the area.

We strongly feel that the entrance fee price should be lowered as the museum and buildings were all closed so we could not enter them be that as it is, charging the full entrance price when folks aren't able to see the whole scope of attractions at the state park isn't as logical but due to the virus I'm sure they haven't had as many visitors. Yet still, the entrance fee should be adjusted accordingly. The children were certainly bummed because they very much looked forward to seeing the museum and other buildings on-site so naturally we were a bit bummed about that and I certainly heard about that from the kids off an on the whole time we wandered the estate. lol!

Aside that, it was a great time and is a great place to take the family for not only a leisurely outing but for an educational experience for our children and is a great place for families to take their kids for an educational field trip. P.S. the gift shop is...

Empire Mine is a quiet and lovely park in Grass Valley. Long ago, people came here to find gold. Today, you can walk around and see old buildings, pretty gardens, and forest trails.

The museum shows how people lived and worked during the gold rush. You can see tools, photos, and even the fancy house where the mine owner lived. The garden near the house is full of flowers and great for pictures.

The walking paths are easy and peaceful. You can bring your dog, take your time, and enjoy the fresh air. The workers at the park are kind and happy to answer questions.

There is special Event in August – Miners Picnic Every August, the park has a fun event called the Miners Picnic. There is Rescue show at noon. Families come to enjoy music, games, old mining tools, and yummy food like ice cream and hot dogs. You can bring your own lunch and sit on the grass with a picnic blanket. People wear old-fashioned clothes and show how mining worked long ago. It’s a great day to learn, play, and make happy memories.

Empire Mine is perfect for families, kids, or anyone who wants to relax and learn something new. I...

The history here is quite intriguing. Coming from Northern Nevada and a lengthy mining background, it was quite interesting to learn about this mine and it's workings. The grounds and buildings are in phenomenal shape and you can tell that a lot of love goes into maintaining this site. Restrooms were clean, water bottle refill stations as well as fountains throughout the park. Picnic area to enjoy your lunch, as well. The model on display is also quite interesting to see the full extent of all the work those miners put into the site all those years ago. We were lucky enough to have a guided tour of the cottage and clubhouse, and the guides (Lee and her husband, sorry I can't remember his name) were funny and kept us interested the whole time. They had awesome little nuggets of information that really pulled the whole thing together in my mind to life back then. Highly recommend a day here. We spent the morning, but weren't able to go on trails or check out a few places we wanted to, so we'll definitely be back,...