California State Mining and Mineral Museum

The California State Mining and Mineral Museum is a museum in the state park system of California, United States, interpreting the state's mineral resources and mining heritage. It is located in Mariposa on the Mariposa County fairgrounds.[1]

California State Mining and Mineral Museum
Interior of the California State Mining and Mineral Museum
LocationMariposa County, California, United States
Nearest cityMariposa, California
Coordinates37°27′51″N 119°56′51″W
Established1999
Governing bodyCalifornia Department of Parks and Recreation

The museum houses a collection that was started in 1865 in San Francisco — the official California State Mineral Collection, with over 13,000 minerals, rocks, gems, fossils, and historic artifacts. Some of the museums highlights include: the crystalline gold "Fricot Nugget", weighing 201 troy ounces (6.25 kg) — the largest one found during the Gold Rush, a working scale model of a stamp mill (built by California sculptor Sal Maccarone) demonstrating the process of extracting gold from quartz rock, and a tunnel that allows visitors to experience first-hand what it felt like to spend the day working in California's hard rock mines.

The California State Mining and Mineral Museum offers visitors the chance to explore the wealth of the Mother Lode, view minerals and gems from around the world, and to experience California's mining history. Throughout the year, special rotating displays from private collections and other institutions are exhibited as well.

Closure proposal

The California Mining and Mineral Museum was one of the 48 California state parks proposed for closure in January 2008 during the Arnold Schwarzenegger administration as part of a deficit reduction program.[2]

Theft

On October 1, 2012, thieves stole an estimated $2 million in gold and gems, but were unable to take the Fricot Nugget. Five men were arrested, but the stolen items had not been recovered as of early 2022.[3]

References
  1. "California State Mining and Mineral Museum". CA State Parks. Retrieved 2022-04-03.
  2. CBS5.com: List Of Calif. Parks To Close In Budget Proposal Archived February 23, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  3. Men accused of Mariposa museum theft appear in court Archived 2016-08-07 at the Wayback Machine, November 19, 2012
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