Nevada County Historical Society

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Nevada County Historical Society Celebrating & Preserving the History of Nevada County, California Burns, President of the College of the Pacific.

The Nevada County Historical Society had its beginning in 1944 after being inspired by Dr. Robert E. Dr. Burns was interested in the preserving the history of the Mother Lode and gold country, and he spoke to the Grass Valley Lions Club about organizing a county historical society. Soon afterwards another meeting was held for people who were interested and a constitution and by-laws were adopted. The objective of the new was to preserve every source of Nevada County history. The new society began with 48 members, and dues were a dollar a year! Monthly programs were planned to entertain and educate members, and the committee chairmen and groups formed the foundation of the society by collecting, displaying, and preserving the memorabilia of the county. Today, the Society maintains the Firehouse Museum in Nevada City, the Mining Museum in Grass Valley, the Searls Library in Nevada City, and the Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum Nevada City.

Photo of Purdon's Crossing Bridge by Andrew Aldrich, you can find more of his work here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/6...
10/14/2026

Photo of Purdon's Crossing Bridge by Andrew Aldrich, you can find more of his work here: 67305706@N03/" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://www.flickr.com/photos/67305706@N03/ (my error, I haven't been to Purdon's Crossing for maybe 40 years and my memory isn't like it used to be - my bad).

In the December 1966 NCHS bulletin, the Society published the unedited reminiscences of Emily Lindsey Rolfe, who arrived...
10/14/2026

In the December 1966 NCHS bulletin, the Society published the unedited reminiscences of Emily Lindsey Rolfe, who arrived in Nevada City in late October 1854 as a new bride. Written in her own plain, unvarnished voice, the account gives a vivid close-up of early pioneer life on Spring Street: a house so roughly battened it looked like a broken comb from the back, pigs and fleas under the floor, potato yeast that nearly took the roof off, milk at a dollar a gallon, and one memorable afternoon during the 1856 fire when she hit a man with a rock to stop him from beating her husband on Piety Hill. A sharp, firsthand look at the everyday realities of the early Northern Mines:

Some Halloween pranks age better than others as noted in this November 13th, 1913 article found in the Truckee Republica...
10/14/2026

Some Halloween pranks age better than others as noted in this November 13th, 1913 article found in the Truckee Republican:

Mining news from Steephollow Creek as noted in this April 15th, 1852 Nevada Journal article:
10/14/2026

Mining news from Steephollow Creek as noted in this April 15th, 1852 Nevada Journal article:

This article found in the December 1967 NCHS Bulletin describes Steven Venard, Nevada City Pioneer:
10/12/2026

This article found in the December 1967 NCHS Bulletin describes Steven Venard, Nevada City Pioneer:

Mining news from Little Deer Creek, near Nevada City as noted in this March 27th 1862 article:
10/12/2026

Mining news from Little Deer Creek, near Nevada City as noted in this March 27th 1862 article:

10/08/2026
Article found in the May 13th, 1965 Nevada County Nugget about floating down the old Accordian Flume:
10/08/2026

Article found in the May 13th, 1965 Nevada County Nugget about floating down the old Accordian Flume:

Lone Graves of Nevada County as noted in this January 1961 NCHS Bulletin article:
10/08/2026

Lone Graves of Nevada County as noted in this January 1961 NCHS Bulletin article:

Address

161 Nevada City Highway
Nevada City, CA
95959

Opening Hours

Monday 1pm - 4pm
Tuesday 1pm - 4pm
Wednesday 1pm - 4pm
Thursday 1pm - 4pm
Friday 1pm - 4pm
Saturday 1pm - 4pm

Telephone

+15302647569

Website

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