Kernville in Kern County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
The Harley Mine
Photographed by Craig Baker, June 7, 2026
1. Harley Mine Marker
Inscription.
The Harley Mine. . , The Harley Mine can best be viewed from the front of the Museum by looking through the pipe located on top of the large, steel bull-wheel to your right. The yellow material seen near the top of the mountain is the dump or waste rock from that mine. Charles Harley, in 1876, got into a dispute in old Kernville with the town bully named Big Bill. During the fight Harley shot Big Bill, and thinking he killed him, went up the mountain to hide. While there, he discovered gold and decided to return to Kernville to face the music and file on his new found claim. Big Bill was only slightly wounded and all was forgiven and they became friends. Big Bill became Harley's foreman. A trail was built to haul materials up to the mine and bring the gold ore down, but they discovered it was too labor and time intensive. , , They decided to build an aerial tramway and employed an engineer named Hallidie from San Francisco. Hallidie was the inventor of the cable car in San Francisco and designed other tramways used on other mines. Hallidie engineered a 3-mile continuous loop cable that went from the mine down to the general area of the Camp Owen Boys Camp. There was a large bull wheel at the mine and one at the bottom. Attached to the cable were 145 buckets at approximately 100 foot intervals. The weight of the buckets of ore coming down provided the power to move the empty buckets, supplies, or passengers up to the mine. In 1882, the tramway cable broke and the ore buckets and cable came screeching down the mountain killing two men. The project had been beset by breakdowns, accidents and general bad luck for some time. This latest occurrence was the straw that ended financial support, and the mine was closed. The mine is mostly caved-in and the few small buildings that were there are now gone thanks to the harsh climate and vandals. What's left can be seen by hiking up the Cannell Trail to the saddle above Caldwell Creek, then turning west up the ridge where one can find the east end of the main tunnel, and on the ridge further west the old chimney. The upper terminus of the tramway is located just over the crest.
The Harley Mine can best be viewed from the front of the Museum by looking through the pipe located on
top of the large, steel bull-wheel to your right. The yellow material seen near the top of the mountain is the
dump or waste rock from that mine. Charles Harley, in 1876, got into a dispute in old Kernville with the
town bully named Big Bill. During the fight Harley shot Big Bill, and thinking he killed him, went up the
mountain to hide. While there, he discovered gold and decided to return to Kernville to face the music and
file on his new found claim. Big Bill was only slightly wounded and all was forgiven and they became friends.
Big Bill became Harley's foreman. A trail was built to haul materials up to the mine and bring the gold ore
down, but they discovered it was too labor and time intensive.
They decided to build an aerial tramway and employed an engineer named Hallidie from San Francisco.
Hallidie was the inventor of the cable car in San Francisco and designed other tramways used on other mines.
Hallidie engineered a 3-mile continuous loop cable that went from the mine down to the general area of the
Camp Owen Boys Camp. There was a large bull wheel at the mine and one at the bottom. Attached to the
cable were 145 buckets at approximately 100 foot intervals. The weight of the buckets of ore
Click or scan to see this page online
coming down
provided the power to move the empty buckets, supplies, or passengers up to the mine. In 1882, the tramway
cable broke and the ore buckets and cable came screeching down the mountain killing two men. The project
had been beset by breakdowns, accidents and general bad luck for some time. This latest occurrence was
the straw that ended financial support, and the mine was closed. The mine is mostly caved-in and the few
small buildings that were there are now gone thanks to the harsh climate and vandals. What's left can be
seen by hiking up the Cannell Trail to the saddle above Caldwell Creek, then turning west up the ridge where
one can find the east end of the main tunnel, and on the ridge further west the old chimney. The upper
terminus of the tramway is located just over the crest.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1876.
Location. 35° 45.312′ N, 118° 25.596′ W. Marker is in Kernville, California, in Kern County. It is on Big Blue Road 0.1 miles west of Kernville Road, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 49 Big Blue Rd, Kernville CA 93238, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Joaquin Valley, specifically in the Central Valley, and in the Sierra Nevada. It is also on the American Pacific Coast. Globally, it is in North America, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Kern River Valley History (here, next to this marker); Bob Powers (within shouting
The mine is near the top of the second-highest peak.
Photographed by Craig Baker, June 7, 2026
4. Harley Mine Marker
The marker is in front of the museum, at far left.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 9, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 8, 2026, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 3 times since then. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 8, 2026, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.
