Gold Standard: California State Mining and Mineral Museum

Ready to drill down on a chapter of history that changed the course of America? Then come inside for the perfect complement to your outdoor Yosemite Mariposa County adventure “” a worth-its-weight-in-gold visit to the California State Mining and Mineral Museum.

Located along Highway 49 just 5 minutes south of the charming Mother Lode town of Mariposa, the California State Mining and Mineral Museum provides the boomtown scoop on the state’s rich vein of hard-rock history featuring a bonanza of gemstones, historical documents and diggers’ tales.

California Mining History

The year was 1848. While overseeing the construction of a sawmill, James W. Marshall spotted the first glitter of gold in the clear waters of Sutter Creek. Thus began an unprecedented stampede of wealth-seekers from all over the world who found their way to the ruggedly beautiful foothills of the Sierra Nevada. They dug, they blasted, they traded and formed businesses to accommodate some 100,000 miners that arrived the following year, earning their famed moniker “” the 49ers. The Gold Rush was on, and its windfall sparked the formation of our country’s wealthiest state. California.

The rush continued when Kit Carson and John C. Frémont discovered the rich Mariposa Vein and opened the first mill to crush ore and extract gold in California. With the ensuing construction of roads and burgeoning populations, Mariposa County would soon be established as California’s largest original county when statehood came in 1850. As time went on, parts of Mariposa County were ceded to twelve other counties, thus earning its designation as the “Mother of Counties.”

Enter the California State Mining & Mineral Museum. Founded in 1880 on the heels of the Gold Rush and originally located in San Francisco, the museum moved during reconstruction to the SF Ferry Building “back home” to Mariposa, CA, in 1983. The collection was temporarily housed in the historic (decommissioned) Mariposa Jail until moving to its current location at the Mariposa County Fairgrounds in 1986. With its historical significance and intriguing samples, the museum was designated a California State Park in 1999.

Displays & Exhibits

Since its inception in 1880, the collection of the California State Mining & Mineral Museum has grown ten-fold from 1,300 objects to over 13,000 today. The displays and exhibits run the gamut from historical documents and mining equipment to gems and minerals from all over the world. Visitors can study the original map of John C. Frémont’s Mexican Land Grant and marvel at the Fricot Nugget “” a 13.8-pound behemoth discovered in 1864, the largest remaining mass of crystalline gold from 19th century California.

Other sluice-worthy specimens include a platinum nugget, gemstones from every continent on Earth and a large, artfully curved sheet of natural copper. California’s little-known State Gemstone “”benitoite (ben-ee-toe-ite) “” never ceases to wow guests with its electric blue glow when put under UV light. In addition to this cast of subterranean stars, the museum has re-created an Old Mining Tunnel complete with support timbers that puts visitors in the boots of the hard-rock miners that once worked underground in Mariposa.

The California State Mining & Mineral Museum is dedicated to educating youth. Free activities for kids include a Junior Ranger Program, and teachers are encouraged to bring their students up to historic Mariposa County for guided tours that meet California state curriculum standards. There’s so much to do here, why not bring the whole class? (Note: Educators can call the museum at 209-742-7625 for information on curriculum-based educational programs targeting Grades 1-12, as well as college level.)

Nearby Attractions

With its broad range of topography and fascinating history, Mariposa County satisfies hikers and history buffs alike. Yosemite National Park is Mariposa’s beacon, attracting visitors from all over the globe. Waterfalls and wildflowers, rugged backcountry peaks and the iconic Yosemite Valley ““ there’s every type of outdoor itinerary waiting to be chiseled. If thrill-seeking is your thing, try whitewater rafting on the Merced River, bombing runs at Exchequer Mountain Bike Park or plummeting with the pros at Skydive Yosemite. Shopping historic old-town Mariposa has deals galore from paintings by local artists to unique home goods and hidden treasures at local thrift shops. Bringing it full circle, go ye olde and take a deep history dive at other museums such as the Mariposa Museum & History Center, the Pioneer Yosemite History Center in Wawona and the Northern Mariposa County History Center in Coulterville.

Stay & Eat

Every visit to Yosemite Mariposa County relies on tasty food & comfy shelter. There’s a restaurant to satisfy every price point and palate, from home-baked treats to micro-brewed masterpieces and house-smoked meats. After a long day of exploring, there are lodging options galore that range from riverside camping to vacation rentals and world class resorts. So come up to Yosemite Mariposa County and learn about the past, while at the same time creating an unforgettable chapter to your own personal history.