Exploring the Abandoned Empire Mine (Part 2)

The Empire Mine continued to impress us as we made our way through the first of many upper levels. Little did I know, there was still 7+ hours of exploring left to do in this mine. Part 3 gives a tour of level accessed from the top of the incline.

[@TVRExploring]

Well, you were right. Not a lot on that level... All of the other levels we visited had a lot more going on! I can live with missing this one level inside.

[@joedoomsdaypio4374]

I used to live down the road from the Empire, on North Star Rd. I moved to Grass Valley from Detroit. It was total culture shock.

[@jaimieslifeofuncertainty1607]

How did you get in there??? I want to explore that mine so bad!

[@dwillard670]

My dad worked here in the late thirties. He was an engineer though, so he may not have gone into the mine itself.

[@jaimieslifeofuncertainty1607]

That is so cool!! I saw the shop for the engineers when I did my tour of Empire Mines. I hope you know how lucky you are to know that your dad worked there!

[@dwillard670]

@@jaimieslifeofuncertainty1607 We drove by it in the sixties when I was little and even visited Gladys Perkins the person who ran the boarding house in Grass Valley. I'd like to go back.

[@NBZW]

This old Grass Valley native isn’t buying the BS. The mine was allowed to flood during WW2 too the 3000 foot level if my memory correctly serves me and it was never pulled down, rather was allowed to continue flooding because of costs involved, refined gold was Government regulated to $ 35:00 per ounce. The flooding continued without check during the ill advised strike of 56-57.

[@docmccoy1928]

damn big mine. That inclined shaft was a nice find with the skip car. Be safe guys

[@davebeckley2584]

This is just huge! You have come across several ore carts during your travels to other mines which I always thought was somewhat strange but a visit to Ebay answered the question of why they were gone. There have been several ore cart wheels for sale with an asking price of $1200. Pretty crazy, huh? I know there are people willing to pay big bucks for almost any artifacts lifted from these abandoned mines. Presents an ethical issue: do you leave all artifacts in the mine for other to discover or do you remove them on the premise that the mines aren't going to improve structurally and will eventually collapse, burying all artifact so no one gets to see them? A real poser. Thanks for the video. It's really appreciated. PS: I know it's a little late but I reread my post and realized I neglected to say what it was that I found on Ebay. It's the ore cart wheels. They are conspicuous in their absence on overturned carts. I couldn't see miners, on their last day at the miner saying, 'Hang on a minute, I have to take the wheels off the carts. It'll keep people from stealing them." Everyone got the idea of it anyway. You have an intelligent audience.

[@MinesoftheWest]

Dave Beckley Great question! I've been wanting to somehow have a discussion about this issue, because I have some pretty strong opinions on it. Bottom line is in my opinion, "collecting", "antiquing" and otherwise removing artifacts from mines is stupid, selfish, and detrimental to mining history. I believe an artifact is special not just because of what it is, but where it is as well. For example; there is a golf course near one of the mining districts I visit and they somehow got a hold of a historic ore cart which now sits on their property. When I see that ore cart, I don't get excited, I don't imagine it's history - it's meaningless...it's in a golf course for gods sake! On the other hand, an ore cart deep inside of an abandoned mines tells a story - you can literally see how and where it was used... I don't think we need more mining museums, and I think it's very sad that people remove artifacts so they can be sold on Ebay. There are a lot of people who probably disagree with me but oh well. Thanks for the question!

[@LynnDrumm]

Take only pictures, leave only footprints.

[@davebeckley2584]

Great reply! I'm glad that's your opinion. I think it's sacrilege to deface these places that are museums unto themselves. In the years I explored Colorado mines, in the late 1960s and early 1970s, many, many mines had just ceased operations and there were artifacts everywhere of all types. Last time out there, all had been ransacked and denuded of the items that add to the history of the mine. It angers me no end. In all my years the only souvenir I have is a spike, found buried in waste rock, from the Little Pittsburg mine in Leadville, Co. owned by H.A.W. Tabor which made him a millionaire and then left him penniless with the repeal of the Sherman Silver Act in 1893. A lot of the silver mines you explore that were opened before that date ceased operations very shortly after since the government was no longer purchasing silver to back the paper money. It wasn't until years later when the price of silver started to rebound that some of those mines were worked again. It's the lucky prospector who comes across a silver mine that was not reopened after 1893. It could contain a wealth of silver ore long since forgotten. Or a gold mine closed in 1941that was never opened back up. Good luck, and thanks.

[@davebeckley2584]

Exactly! It's a shame so much damage has already been done.

[@judithdemers9352]

thanks for the tour

[@hasbor]

Have you found any chunk of gold ?

[@RobbyTripp]

Any tips of discovering mines like these? It can’t be by pure luck.

[@577buttfan]

USGS TOPO.

[@michaelcoker3197]

Did I see square set timbers?

[@ADITADDICTS]

Lots of water in that mine considering its location.

[@TVRExploring]

Yeah, it was surprisingly damp. The levels the winzes dropped down to were flooded, which you don't normally associate with Nevada.

[@OdySlim]

Hey Chuck, just ran across this channel and to my surprise, I found you and Justin. Do you have any tape of this one? Regards Ody Slim

[@gregreyrosenthal3582]

Is this in grass valley?

[@dwillard670]

yes

[@marklennon8648]

nope

[@NBZW]

Very, very doubtful, strike at the mine in 56-57 allowed flooding to occur that was cost prohibitive to drain at the time. If my memory serves me correctly, during the war flooding was allowed to the 300 foot level but never lowered, again cost prohibitive. Refined gold was regulated at $35:00 per ounce at that time.

[@RochelleDeli]

Is this Nevada city grass valley areA?

[@marklennon8648]

no its not

[@barneymiller7894]

Trip at the top of that incline and your SCREWED lol

[@Therian4272]

Wat is here?

[@andrewkeepers431]

There's a lot more to this mine that you haven't seen.

[@MinesoftheWest]

andrew keepers That’s true! Even with all 6 parts, there are several levels to this mine that we were not able to reach.

[@andrewkeepers431]

The really good stuff is in the upper levels, from the east side of the mountain.

[@MinesoftheWest]

andrew keepers Right, have you been to that adit recently? From what I’ve heard, it’s completely sealed shut today. Unless that has changed recently...

[@andrewkeepers431]

Yes it was. You guys will just have to revisit and see for yourselves.

[@MinesoftheWest]

andrew keepers Thanks for the info!

[@virus_In_Lullaby]

nice

[@OdySlim]

Whats up Chuck? Glad to find you and Justin on this channel. Ody

[@michaelcoker3197]

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