Sunday, December 12, 2010

Empire Mine SHP--Dressed for Christmas

Empire Mine State Historic Park in Grass Valley, California tells the story of the Empire mine and hard rock mining.  In addition to many mine buildings and equipment there still exist the cottage that the owners, the Bourn family, used as a country home and a club house used for entertaining.  We toured these while they were dressed for Christmas.

The first stop on the tour was the club house.
 Through the door is the billiard room.  There was also a bar, a bowling alley and guest rooms for overnight guests.
 The family's primary home was in Woodside and is now owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.  I hope to tour the estate, called Filoli,  some time in the future.
 This beautiful home was only used a few weeks a year.
Of course, the sound of the stamps, used to crush the ore rocks, might have made it less appealing than it seems today.

See more views of our wonderful world at That's My World, Tuesday, hosted for us by Klaus, Sandy, Wren and Sylvia.

16 comments:

Sylvia K said...

What a delightful looking place! Would love to spend some time there! Love your photos as always, Martha! Hope you have a wonderful week!

Sylvia

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

I just love stuff like this! Educational and Christmas spirit all wrapped up in one. Thanks for sharing your tour.

We are on our way to Florida (and sun and shadows) this week.

Gaelyn said...

Does seem like it'd be a noisy place. Love all the rich woods.

Anonymous said...

What a pretty home. It is furnished well too. It looks especially nice with all the Christmas decorations.

Yogi♪♪♪ said...

Very attractive old time Christmassy decoration.

EG CameraGirl said...

What a treat to see the park decorated for Christmas!

Linda Reeder said...

Oh, Christmas looks like the best of times for a visit to this beautiful "cabin".
We have been to Filoli twice, to tour the amazing garden, but have not been inside of the mansion.

Photo Cache said...

tastefully decorated for the season. i want my house to look like that :)

we've been living under the fog for days now. how about you up north?

Mine is here

giorno26 ¸¸.•*¨*•. said...

Bellissima casa !
Buona serata :)
Myriam

Arija said...

A lovely house and the Filoli gardens are quite famous as well.

Lesley said...

It is nice to tour these places at this time of year when the rooms are all decorated so festively.

SandyCarlson said...

An incredible place!

Tammie Lee said...

such wonderful wood and brick work/art!

Diane AZ said...

The decorations make the place look so warm and friendly. Nice tour!

Unknown said...

Great tour of a mine owner's cottage. Boom & Gary of The Vermilon River, Canada.

Lew said...

Beautiful place, well restored! I would guess that it was also a lot dustier when the mine was in operation.