Gold mining at Reed Gold Mine was in its heyday by the 1850s. This was before the California gold rush, when gold mining in North Carolina was the place to be. In 1799, young Conrad Reed discovered a 17-pound gold nugget while fishing in Little Meadow Creek, giving rise to America’s first gold rush.

Reed will highlight the 1850s-mining era with living history demonstrations of surface and underground mining, hands-on mining activities and other demonstrations. Costumed interpreters will show cradle and log rockers, used to sort through dirt and find large nuggets on the surface. Others will show how blasting holes were drilled and gold bearing quartz rock was removed from the mine. The California-type 10-stamp mill will show how rock was mixed with mercury to extract gold.

Visitors will also be able to pan for gold during the event, for an additional charge of $3.21 per pan for those 8 years old or older. Younger children can assist in panning for gold. Visitors will be able to take turns on the cradle rocker also.

Gold mining began in earnest after 1802 at Reed Gold Mine, after the rock Conrad Reed brought home was determined to be gold. It had served as a doorstop for a few years, until a jeweler’s inspection revealed that it was gold.

Cost – $5.35 for adults, $4.28 for children 3-12, tax included.