On A Tank Of Gas: March

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Historic Grass Valley and Nevada City:
Catch Gold Fever, Discover Pelton Wheels,
Nibble Cornish Pasties

by Don Dupras

An hour’s drive from Sacramento, Grass Valley — site of California’s two biggest and richest underground hard-rock gold mines — and its Victorian neighbor, Nevada City, reveal the intriguing spirit of Gold Rush history and technology. 
    Brilliant yellow March daffodils signal the first blush of spring on the western flank of the Sierra foothills, where scenic Highway 49 commemorates the 49ers and traces the 120-mile long Mother Lode. This winding zone of gold-rich rock, averaging only a mile in width, set off the largest gold rush in history.
    Grass Valley, which was the center of hard-rock mining in California, may soon be stirring gold fever again.  
    One of the original Gold Rush boomtowns, Grass Valley has the oldest, richest and most extensive hard-rock Mother Lode mine, the world-class Empire Mine that operated from 1850 to 1956.
    Today, the forested 845-acre Empire Mine State Park has daily tours of the main shaft, stamp mill, head frame, various original workshops and the owner’s English-style stately stone and brick Empire Cottage, complete with fountains, reflecting pool and rose gardens. 
Continued...

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