Eureka

The Eureka Mine, the last active major hard rock gold mine in the Sierra Nevada Mother Lode belt, holds a significant place in history. Originally known as the ‘Summit’, it operated from 1855 to 1875 and reopened in 1895 as the ‘Central Eureka’. This historical mine, which operated intermittently until 1924, when it was consolidated with the Old Eureka, has been a part of the gold mining industry’s rich history. At this time, Central Eureka’s main shaft had reached a depth of 4,500 feet and, along with its holdings at the Old Eureka, had produced 1,800,000 ounces of gold. The Federal government suspended all gold mining operations due to the Second World War. The mine reopened in 1946 and remained in operation until the 1950s. Various reports indicate that its final year of operation was between 1951 and 1958. ONE