Welcome to the Historic Kennedy Gold Mine
The Kennedy Mine, famous for being one of the deepest gold mines in the
world (at 5912 feet), demonstrates how gold changed an entire way of
life in California. Although gold was known to be present and was mined
by the Spanish and Mexicans, the California Gold Rush did not begin
until after James Marshall's discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill in 1848.
Between 1848 and 1858, California exploded from being a largely
unpopulated agrarian state into a vital, fast growing and exciting part
of the United States. Prospected in 1860, reorganized in 1886 and
continuously run until 1942, the Kennedy Gold Mine produced
approximately $34,280,000 in gold according to the CA Dept. of
Conservation (a 1948 valuation). One of the tallest head frames in existence today can be
seen at the Kennedy Mine. The mine also had one of the largest stamp
mills in the Mother Lode, moving tailings by means of huge wooden
wheels, some of which are still standing.


Starting April 24th, 2021, the Kennedy Mine, located near Jackson California (printable map), will be open every Saturday, Sunday and Holiday from 10 AM to 3:30 PM, every weekend through October. FREE Admission. We have tours to fit your budget.
On the Kennedy Gold Mine surface tours, visitors see the mine office
building where gold flakes were melted into large bricks to ship by
Wells Fargo to San Francisco. This is also where ore samples were
processed to see if a particular underground area was worthy of further
investigation. See the stamp and gold recovery mill, tailing wheels, a
steam boiler and the huge steel head frame whose pulleys guided the
miners into the bowels of the earth. You will also see the building
where the men changed into their mining garb before dropping nearly a
mile underground to work. You will view a historic video of the men
working circa 1914, and much more. Visit the Kennedy Gold Mine and gain
new insight into the complications and hardships of the miner's way of
life!
Guided Surface Tours:
Guided Tours are recommended for an
interesting, in-depth, and educational tour of the museums and grounds.
Tours are available at 10:15 AM, 12:15 PM and 2:15 PM. The 90 minute
tour includes the Change House Museum and Gift Shop, the theater showing
actual 1914 footage of of the mine in operation over 100 years ago, and
our new Mine Tunnel Experience! Tour the Steam Boiler Building, Head
Frame/Shaft area, Stamp Mill Overlook, Underground Foreman’s Office, and
the fascinating inside tour of the 1907 Mine Office Museum including the
Paymaster's office, the large walk-in safe where gold bars and important
records were kept, the Gold Retort Furnace and Assay Rooms, the Guest
Bedrooms on the top floor for dignitaries that visited the famous mine,
plus many other Points of Interest. Guided Tours: Adults
$12.00. Kids (6-12) $6.00. Group Guided tours are also available, by
reservation, all year.
Self-Guided Tours
Available:
Tour #1
Includes the Change House Museum and
Gift Shop, the theater showing actual 1914 footage of of the mine in
operation over 100 years ago, our new Mine Tunnel Experience, and public
areas including the Steam Boiler Building, Stamp Mill Overlook,
Underground Foreman’s Office, exterior only views of the Mine Office
Museum, plus other Points of Interest. Tour#1: Adults:
$7.00, Kids (6-12) $3.00. Family Package Special: 2
Adults and up to 3 kids (6-12) plus our Souvenir Guide Book included.
$25.00.
Tour #2
Access to the Change House Museum and Gift
Shop areas (not including the theater and Mine Tunnel Experience) and
access to our outdoor public areas including the Steam Boiler Building,
Stamp Mill Overlook, Underground Foreman’s Office, exterior only views
of the Mine Office Museum, plus other Points of Interest. Tour
#2: Free of charge.
Souvenir Self-Guided Tour
Book: $5.00. Available in the Gift Shop.
Gold
Panning (see Gift Shop for more information and tickets, or use
BOOK NOW)
You may prefer to bring a
picnic lunch and just soak in the ambiance of this historic spot. Plan
a Kennedy Mine Tour now!
Satellite Map For the Kennedy Gold Mine
Easy, Fast, Convenient, Secure.
online for access information.
For more information, email: info@kennedygoldmine.com
Or phone us at: (209) 223-9542
Teachers, Educators: We have a special tour
designed for your students.
Kennedy Gold Mine Gift Shop
The Kennedy Gold Mine Gift Shop offers a wonderful variety of gold and mining related items. From Kennedy T-shirts and memorabilia, rocks and minerals, jewelry, art, a good selection of books about gold mining including a souvenir self-guided tour book of the mine. Purchase our famous and fascinating 7 minute video seen on the tour, showing rare and unique footage of the mine in action! Interesting and unique gifts. Gold Panning tickets are available here. Don't miss it!
Need more information? Here are some free downloads:
Kennedy Gold Mine Brochure (1.01 MB PDF)
Geology of the Kennedy Mine (191 KB PDF)
Kennedy Mine Gold Production (191 KB PDF)
Sponsor or Partner with the Kennedy Mine (175 KB PDF)
These files require Adobe® Reader® (20.8 MB)
The Kennedy Mine Foundation
The mission of the Kennedy Mine Foundation is to protect, conserve, restore the historic structures,
and share the history of the property known as the Kennedy Mine. The
Kennedy Mine Foundation works to retain the
historic value, scenic beauty, natural treasures and wildlife habitat
for future generations.
The Kennedy Mine Foundation is a non-profit California Public Benefit
Corporation operating under the 501(c)3 regulations.
We hope you will come and enjoy the Kennedy Gold Mine with us and perhaps become involved in the
volunteer effort. Donations are welcome and are tax deductible. For more
information, please see "Sponsor or Partner with the Kennedy Mine". Come and visit the Kennedy Mine!
Virtually FLY Over the Kennedy Mine!
Experience the Kennedy in a dramatic aerial view. Warning: turn your sound down, or off for an office setting. Copyright 2016 by Grant Olin of G.L.O. films, All Rights Reserved.
We hope you will come and enjoy the Kennedy Gold Mine with us and perhaps become involved in the
volunteer effort. Donations are welcome and are tax deductible. For more
information, please see "Sponsor or Partner with the Kennedy Mine". Come and visit the Kennedy Mine!