Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park

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Nevada City, CA
Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park

Gold discovered in the gravels of the diggings was a source of vast wealth that drove the development of early California.

The ancient river gravels also provide a geologic snap shot of the development of the Sierra Nevada.

05/25/2024

Join us on Saturday, June 8th for the 56th annual Humbug Day! Live music, historical crafts and games, demonstrations, kids' activities, living history building tours, barbecue and ice cream, and listen to old-time piano with a root beer in the saloon! Watch the hydraulic monitor spray a stream of water, and cheer on the "World's Shortest Parade" at the North Bloomfield mining town's annual “hometown homecoming.”

Entrance fee is $10/vehicle (cash only). Be aware there is no nearby ATM and very little Wi-Fi and cell reception, so plan accordingly.

Directions: For the paved route, stay on Hwy 49 to Tyler Foote Rd. and follow signs from there. The N. Bloomfield Rd. route is a mostly gravel road.

04/03/2024

The California red-legged frog (Rana draytonii) is a native and federally listed threatened species. In 2015 it was designated as California's state frog. They are the largest native speces in the Western United States and have disappeared from around 70% of its range due to loss of habitat and introduction of invasive species, most notably the American bullfrog. The remediation efforts here down in the former mining pit are in place to continue to conserve habitat for these special frogs.

Photo by Robert Fletcher, Ohlone Preserve Conservation Bank, USFWS via WikiCommons

04/01/2024

A few of these old miner's cabins can still be seen on the outskirts of the current footprint of the historic town of North Bloomfield here at Malakoff Diggins. These small cabins were the living space for miners working down in the Pit and usually had just enough space for a bed, woodburning stove, ice box, and a table/chair. Gently making their way into the recesses of history, they can still be seen for a while longer until they crumble completely.

Photo by Nicole Spaulding, Interpretive SPA

03/30/2024

Today is Take a Walk in a Park Day and we hope you'll come visit us! You can even come up today while the Museum is open and check out a Family Adventure Pack (pictured here) for some fun activities to do while you explore the trails and historic town. Come talk to Sue inside and she'll give you all the details! See you out on the trail.

Photo by Nicole Spaulding, SPA

03/27/2024

After all the rain and snow, the Diggins Loop trail is covered in areas usually not covered by water. This has given some extra habitat for marsh loving species, especially frogs. If you listen closely, you can hear several species singing in the rain. Tread lightly at the edges of these areas next to trails or they'll stop singing.

Video taken by Nicole Spaulding, Interpretive SPA

03/22/2024

Cooper's hawks are famously agile and hunt evasive prey. They like small to medium sized birds but will also take down small mammals and reptiles. They prefer to nest in tall trees with extensive canopy cover and are adaptable in all seasons for forested mountain ranges, especially foothills. They are powerful flyers and if you're lucky enough to see one fairly close (or get some binoculars!), they have gorgeous feathering that often include spots. Pictured here is a juvenile.

Photo by Patrick Doheny via WikiCommons

03/20/2024

World Storytelling Day celebrates all of the folks who share their knowledge and passion through stories. State Park Interpreters are such people. They are at our parks to share the wealth of information they hold about the history of our Parks, the natural resources you will see here, the recreation options you have during your visit. They are responsible for creating important programs that are engaging and educational and bring our Parks alive. Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park has had one such person this past season. We send Nicole Spaulding off to her promotion with a bittersweet 'see you soon.' We know she'll be back to visit soon!

03/15/2024

As spring approaches, we're looking forward to watching the parks trees, plants, and flowers unfurl with new growth. This will also bring a lovely show of pollinators. The gray hairstreak (Strymon melinus) butterfly has a wide range and a variety of habitats. You can spot these by their gray color and the bright orange spot on their lower wings.

Photo by Christina Butler via WikiCommons

03/13/2024

While you explore the historic town of North Bloomfield on your visit here at Malakoff Diggins, you'll find remnants of the largest hydraulic gold mine of the time here and there. Some of these old pieces are pipelines, water cannons known as monitors, or other pieces of the machines that were invented before power tools were in common use. The elements pictured here can be found across the street from our Museum/Visitor Center.

Photo by Nicole Spaulding, SPA

Address

23579 North Bloomfield Road
Nevada City, CA
95959

Telephone

(530) 265-2740

Website

http://www.parks.ca.gov/

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