Miners Foundry Cultural Center

Gold Rush-era stone foundry now a live music and arts venue

Address 325 Spring St, Nevada City, CA
Phone +1 530-265-5040

Originally built in 1856 to manufacture mining equipment for the Gold Rush, the Miners Foundry is now a 15,000-square-foot events and cultural venue. The stone building is one of the finest examples of Gold Rush-era industrial architecture in the state. It hosts concerts, theater, art shows, and community events throughout the year — check the calendar before visiting, as it's most interesting when something's on.

325 Spring St, (530) 265-5040.

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A story
The foundry's most important product wasn't mining equipment — it was the Pelton wheel, invented here in 1879. The Pelton wheel became the dominant technology for hydroelectric power generation worldwide, and derivatives of the original design are still used in hydroelectric plants today.

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