This day, Sept. 7th,  included a tour of the Empire Gold Mine, in Nevada County, California.

The Empire Mine is on the National Register of Historic Places, a federal Historic District, and a California Historical Landmark. It is one of the oldest, largest, deepest, longest-running and richest gold mines in California.  More mine images:

The mine tour was followed by a visit to the Bourn Cottage with an era “Pastie” Lunch (pronounced “Past E”).

As you can see, the docents (who provided living history tours of the 1890s country estate home of mine-owner William Bourn, Jr.) were dressed in turn-of-the-century clothing. They portrayed not only the Bourns, but also the Starrs (family of the mine manager), as well as chatty, charming housekeeper Katie Moriarty. 

I’m told that the Pasties were yummy – sort of like a chicken (or beef or veggie) pot pie, but without the gravy and the peas.

The afternoon was at leisure with listed sites such as the Old Holbrook Hotel, Old Town Grass Valley and the Malakoff Diggings in North Bloomfield (where Hydraulic Mining was born).

However, Bob and Darleen Shawl followed Dale and Barbara Morrison up to the Visitor Center of Malakoff Diggings State Park. After only a few miles on the very rough and dusty road, though, they decided not to drive the remaining 11 miles. They turned around and drove to Nevada City instead.

And here’s a nice gathering of most of our Model A’s.For those interested in Antique Shops, there were plenty in the surrounding area, as well as stately public buildings.

Photo credits:  Hohman, Murdoch, Shawl, and Sissons.