Gold Bug Mine and Park

Gold Bug Mine and Park is located in the town of Placerville. During the 1800's there were several mines in the vicinity of the current sixty acre park.

The park features the Gold Bug Mine, where you can walk into the mine on a self-guided tour or choose a guided group tour.

The park also has the Joshua Hendy Stamp Mill, the Priest Mine, the Hattie Museum and a gift shop. There is gold panning, a picnic area, trails, and interpretive signs proving information about the geology in thea area and the gold mining process.

Gold Bug Mine is a classic hard rock gold mine, it began operation in 1888.

In the 1880's they drilled dynamite holes by hand. With one man drilling the hole, it is called single-jacking. With a guided tour you will be able to experience single-jacking yourself.

This area is the working face of the mine, about 360 feet back from the entrance and about 110 feet below the top of the mountain.

Most of the rock in the mine consists of slate with quartz veins. It is in the quartz vein where gold is found. The mine was closed in 1942.

The Joshua Hendy stamp mill building houses an eight-stamp mill.

When the mill was in full operation the sound of the mill crushing rock could be heard for miles around.