Sierra City’s local museum, the Kentucky Mine, is a worthy stop that introduces the famed ‘Golden Chain Hwy’ (California's Hwy 49). Its gold mine and stamp mill are just northeast of town.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park

20.78 MILES

An otherworldly testament to the mechanical determination of the gold hunt, Malakoff Diggins is a place to get lost on fern-lined trails and take in the…

2. Donner Lake

25.74 MILES

West of Truckee, 3-mile-long Donner Lake is a busy recreational hub. The Donner Party camped nearby during the fateful winter of 1846. Donner Summit,…

3. Old Jail

28.74 MILES

Continuously in use until the 1960s, this 1875 redbrick building is filled with relics from the wild days of yore. George ‘Machine Gun’ Kelly was…