Gold fever still burns bright at Empire Mine – and we want to keep it that way!
Empire Mine Park Association (EMPA, for short) is dedicated to maintaining the history and beauty of Empire Mine State Historic Park. Founded in 1976, our goal is to make each visit authentic, safe and memorable.
We’re a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and we provide the Park with vital financial support to continue its legacy of gold, grit, and glory.
In the early 1900s, stamp mills thundered 24 hours a day. You could set your watch by its haunting whistle that reminded local residents all systems were go. Open for business from 1850 until 1956, Empire Mine produced 5.8 million ounces of gold. Miners from Cornwall, England – and all over the world – left their homes to be part of the action. Owner William Bourn, Jr. and mine manager George Starr changed local, national and world history forever. Today visitors can walk in their footsteps – and experience what life was like in those heady times. Each year the Park welcomes around 100,000 visitors from all over the world.
Highlights include:
- Empire Cottage, designed by famed architect Willis Polk – with its stately gardens and fountains
- The impressive Clubhouse, built in 1905 to entertain key business magnates
- The Mine Yard where the ore was processed into gold bars
- The Mine Shaft, where visitors can sit on an actual man skip that transported the miners underground
- The Blacksmith Shop, Machine Shop, and other buildings that were the “hubs” of Empire Mine’s success
- Almost 850 acres of scenic, award-winning trails

