Grass Valley History
The centerpiece of Grass Valley is a vibrant downtown section, just blocks from the pines, has been serving the community since shortly after gold miners arrived in 1849. This commercial district has everything from a historic hotel to art galleries, diverse restaurants, wine tasting rooms great shopping, a world renowned farmers market and a center for the arts.
Downtown buildings constructed in the late 1880s co-exist with architecture of later eras like Art Deco. In the 1980s, Grass Valley was recognized as a self-initiated Main Street City by the State of California Main Street Program. Services included an evaluation of store fronts by an architect who visited the area and suggested ways to preserve the historic character.
Main Street received a facelift in 1998 complete with trees, flower boxes and a Victorian clock strategically placed at the corner of Mill and Main Streets. It serves as the area’s centerpiece.
Looking back, the first settlers to set foot in the area were from Oregon, and came in 1848 after hearing that gold had been discovered. Soon, the rush for gold was on, and a group of 20 formed the nucleus of a town.
There were a lot of firsts in 1850 – the first store, hotel and family. That year an important discovery took place, or so the story goes, when a miner looking for his missing cow knocked loose a rock which glittered. He crushed it and found gold in the quartz. Prior to that time, miners were involved in placer mining or mining for free gold in creeks and among gravel. Grass Valley grew in a matter of months from about 20 cabins to 150 buildings including stores. Saloons were plentiful and gambling popular.
In 1855, the population rose to 3,500, but then a devastating fire destroyed 300 buildings including virtually all of the business district. One bright light was provided by A. Delano, the Wells Fargo agent. Seen pulling a shanty down the street, he backed it up to the company’s brick vault still standing among the ruins and opened for business amid the warm ashes.
Another setback occurred when early mining success was followed by failure as easily accessible gold became difficult to find. However, in the 1860s techniques were improved and a very profitable hardrock or underground mining industry was established.
The most successful mine was the Empire. It was shut down in 1956, and today is a State Historic Park. Tin miners from Cornwall, England contributed much toward the development of Grass Valley’s important hardrock mining industry, and they introduced the Cornish pump used to keep the mines dry.
Closing of the mines by the war production board in the 1940s, along with the government’s fixed price of gold at $35 an ounce, contributed to the end of mining in Grass Valley, as did labor disputes.
It is said, however, that millions of dollars worth of gold remain, and there just may come a day when the value of gold makes it worthwhile to reopen the now silent mines.