Why do we go back to sites that we’ve been to before? The answer is simple: There’s always something different to see and photograph. This time we went to the Empire Mine State Historic Park in Nevada City to capture some Fall color. We weren’t disappointed! The Ginkgo trees were in their splendor.
All the images in this post were taken near the and of the Bourn Cottage. To read the history of this home follow the link. Here are some images taken this trip.
Now for the colorful grounds.
Oh, I have many more images but how much color can you handle! My next post will show more of the grounds going to the mine and the mine grounds.
You never know where you’ll end up when on a photo outing with your photo pod. You start out with a destination in mind and a fork in the road can lead you somewhere else! That’s what happened when we started out to find a field of the California Poppy, our State flower. Our destination was Jackson, but I’m not sure where we ended up. Not Jackson and no poppy fields.
So we decided to capture the flowers and poppies in Sutter Creek. It’s always fun to visit that small town anyway, and it was getting to be hungry time. We found potted poppies and other things in the town.
On our way back to the town we spotted a mine from the road, but it was too early to enter it, if we could due to the COVID pandemic. So we took our pictures from the road and went into town.
Now in Sutter Creek. Stores and restaurants were just beginning to open.
With full tummies and a nice walk around town, we headed home. We stopped along the way to photograph this barn and vineyard.
We weren’t done yet! We spotted a model airplane airport and Ray instinctively drove in to see what was happening. Once in, I remembered I stopped there with Richard, but there was a new type of plane that I’d never seen before. The wings were like cellophane and it buzzed around the sky fast.
I still want that poppy field and hope to get to it before it’s gone. But, we did have a fun journey!
I told you that I learn from my mistakes, and for this outing, I remembered my Tripod. It’s a good thing I did, because it came in handy at the Empire Mine State Historic Park in Grass Valley. The park was begging to be shot in HDR which added so much depth and character to the images.
As usual on Tuesdays, our guide and driver Greg took us, me and Linda, the back way to the Park, stopping along the way to discover future shoots, do some actual photography and eat. That is how we ended up in Wheatland, the first stop on our journey. This is a very small town. I put the “very” before small because that’s how small it is–at least to our photographic eyes. The town, in Yuba County, actually has a population of 3,456 as of the 2010 census.
We were going to Rough and Ready but never made it because it was getting late and we wanted to get to the Mine. Oh yes, we made a couple more stops along the way. The Empire Mine was founded in 1850 and operated until 1956. The William Bourn family maintained control of the mine and lived there until 1929 when it was sold to Newmont Mining. In 1975 it was purchased by the State who then created the Historic Park.
We got there late afternoon, quickly going to the mine area. The grounds are separated into the mine area and living quarters consisting of a beautiful home and gardens. We shot until we were asked to leave. It seems they close the Mine at 5 p.m. When we left, the ranger reminded us that we were there almost two hours which should have been enough time to see the mine, and I had to explain that photographers take more time than most people. I don’t think she was sympathetic; she just wanted to go home!
Oh, another lesson learned! Check out the hours before we leave home! Yes, we’ll have to do that because we will be returning.
The Wheatland water tower. They were doing some work on it.
This is either a replica or an actual old school house located on a school property.
A Wheatland church.
A stop on the road, this rugged road and golden colored grass land.
Remnants of what might have been an old gate.
Fencing and Eucalyptus trees.
Old log with a lot of character.
Country farm house.
Stamp Mill Site.
This building contained the Mine Manager’s Office, Assay office and Refinery Room.
A different view of the building.
The Warehouse.
Mine Equipment Exhibit.
This image shows the blacksmith shop, the Compressor Building, Tool Sharpening Shed.,
The greenhouse.
The garage.
The mine shaft.
The stairway to and from the mine shaft.
The fountain on the grounds surrounding the living quarters.
Slow Shutter Speed 