My Town Monday: Gold Mine, Julian, CA
If you're up in the mountain town of Julian, CA (located about 60 miles northeast of San Diego), the Eagle and High Peak Mine is a must-visit. The mine is at the end of C Street. I'd definitely phone ahead for the hours of operation (760-765-0036).
The Eagle and High Peak Mine offers hour-long tours through the tunnels where the guide will regale you with facts about gold mining and stories of days gone by. The tour isn't too expensive (about $10/adult and $5/child). And it's really, really interesting. By the end, you'll be tossing around terms like sluice box and rockers and stamps and placer gold. Our guide was bitten by the gold bug several years ago and actually pans on her days off. Sometimes successfully.
When you've finished the tour, you can pan for gold yourself, then shop at the Company Store.
And, now, a little history for you. A.E. Coleman discovered gold in Coleman's Creek in 1869 and started a mining camp which later became Julian. Julian is named for Mike Julian, an ex-confederate soldier from Georgia who came to find his fortune in the California mine fields after the Civil War. $5 million in gold was taken from the Julian environs between 1870 and 1880. Albert Robinson, a freed Missouri slave and the first black man to serve on a jury in San Diego County, built the Julian Gold Rush Hotel in 1897. It's the oldest operating hotel in Southern California. (www.desertusa.com, www.glitter.com, www.julianhotel.com)
This isn't history, but it is a fun bit of trivia: Each October, 10,000 apple pies are baked here!
So, while you're waiting for the night sky and star gazing at the Observer's Inn planetarium, go visit the gold mine. You won't be sorry.
Thanks, once again, to Travis Erwin for hosting My Town Monday. For Travis' entry and links to the other participants, check Travis' blog.
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Talk about the Old West!
ReplyDeleteTerrific post, so much history.
Terrie
I love reading about The Old West. f I'm ever in your neck of the woods I'll definitely give it a looksee. I think My Town Monday is fascinating.
ReplyDeleteMy Town Monday is a great idea! I remember touring some mines in Colorado as a child on school field trips. It was such fun.
ReplyDeleteThis gold mine sounds so exciting! Thank you for telling us about it. A few years ago, we vacationed up at Lake George, NY. A little further north of there is a garnet mine. We toured the mine then did some panning. We found some tiny stones of little monetary value but of major emotional value. What fun we had, and how great to see the excitement on our daughter's face when she found those special stones. :-)
ReplyDeleteAh, memories. Your post brought them back for me, thank you.
~Debbie
Oh, you have no idea how much I would LOVE that! We visited the Bell Witch Cave here last year and I just LOVE those kinds of things!
ReplyDeleteI need to save all you posts regarding San Diego so when my son moves back there and I go visit, I can do all these things!
How cool! I lived in Central Oregon and we would find gold mines when out riding our horses. There was also a grave from our house from one of the lost wagon trains. Not an area you want to be lost in.
ReplyDeleteTeri
You are seriously making me want to take a vacation to down your way. Hey, it's only a 18-24 hour drive!
ReplyDeleteMy boys would love this place. Seriously. You may be getting visitors soon! :)
ReplyDeleteHeidi
That DOES sound like a fun place to visit!
ReplyDeleteThe gold mine sounds like a lot of fun. I toured one once a long time ago in Northern Calif.
ReplyDeleteLinda
http://flightsafancy.blogspot.com/
I've been on a couple of gold mine tours in colorado and I gotta give to those guys who risked it all for fame and fortune down in thsoe holes. I much prefer the light of day.
ReplyDeleteBarrie, do you know the significance of 10,000 apple pies?!
ReplyDeleteLarramie, the only significance of 10,000 that I know of....is we all rush to Julian (or to bakeries that carry Julian goodies) in the fall (apple harvest season because Julian is elevated enough to have seasons) and buy apple pies. Seriously, it's Julian apple pies galore in San Diego County each fall!
ReplyDeleteThis series is a wonderful travel guide! It’s several years since I was last in California, but I hope to return.
ReplyDeleteCool post!
ReplyDeleteInteresting history. And how cool - that picture looks like a movie set!
ReplyDeletenice mine and the book talk sounded like a great experience...
ReplyDeleteThe tour sounds great. I'd want to come in October just to smell the apple pies. Well, and taste one or two.
ReplyDeleteI still remember Carlsbad cavern.
ReplyDeleteDoes your mine have bats?
BTW: Did you see this?
http://www.leelofland.com/wordpress/?p=578
Interesting post! I've always wanted to visit a gold mine. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun place. Thanks for sharing this.
ReplyDeletemy dad & i are talking about taking my little brother & my son to SD this summer & up to Legoland too. So, I'll definitely have to check this out!
ReplyDelete:)
That sounds very fun! I'm coming straight to you next time I plan to be in the San Diego area--you know all the good stuff!
ReplyDeleteAnd congrats on a successful bout with public speaking!
How fun! I think I would like panning for gold and basking in that California sun :-)
ReplyDeleteGold and Apple pies - Marvellous !
ReplyDeleteI love stuff like that - so interesting!
ReplyDeletethat is so cool! i want to pan for gold! sounds like a fun little trip. :)
ReplyDelete