Nevada City in Nevada County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Railroad and Transportation Museum

Photographed By Kristofer Nelson, March 12, 2011

1. Railroad and Transportation Museum Marker

Inscription. The Nevada County Historical Society founded the Transportation Museum Division in 1983 to acquire, document, restore and preserve information and artifacts pertaining to Nevada County’s railroad and transportation history. Best known is the Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad that operated from 1876 until 1942. The museum opened for public enjoyment on March 17, 2003

Erected 2011 by Grand Parlor, Native Sons of the Golden West. (Marker Number 2010-9.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the Native Sons/Daughters of the Golden West series list. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1914.

Location. 39° 14.963′ N, 121° 1.139′ W. Marker is in Nevada City, California, in Nevada County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Kidder Court and Bost Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5 Kidder Court, Nevada City CA 95959, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad 1874-1943 (approx. 0.4 miles away); Chinese Narrow Gauge Rail Workers (approx. 0.7 miles away); Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad (approx. 0.7 miles away); Nevada County War & Veterans Memorial

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(approx. ¾ mile away); William Morris Stewart Mansion (approx. ¾ mile away); Pine Street Bridge (approx. 0.8 miles away); “The Old Brewery” (approx. 0.9 miles away); Powell Home (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Nevada City.

More about this marker. The marker is mounted to one of the museum's buildings.

Also see . . .
1. Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum. Located in Nevada City, California, the Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum is dedicated to the preservation of local transportation history and artifacts from the narrow gauge railroad era. In addition to the railroad, this Sierra foothills county boasted such turn-of-the 20th century transportation as an electric streetcar line, a steam powered automobile, and the first commercial airport in the United States. (Submitted on March 1, 2014, by James King of San Miguel, California.)

2. History of the Nevada County Narrow Gage Railroad. The need for rail service in the semi-mountainous and wooded area of Grass Valley and Nevada City was precipitated
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by mining operations subsequent to the California Gold Rush. In addition, timber operators wanted to make their land accessible to the Southern Pacific Company in Colfax. On March 20, 1874, the California legislature and Governor Newton Booth approved the right to build and operate a narrow gauge railroad from Colfax, through Grass Valley, to Nevada City. On June 20, an Act of Congress granted the railroad right of way through public lands. (Submitted on March 1, 2014, by James King of San Miguel, California.)

3. Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad. Maps and overlays on modern aerial photos. (Submitted on March 1, 2014, by James King of San Miguel, California.)

Credits. This page was last revised on November 8, 2020. It was originally submitted on March 1, 2014, by James King of San Miguel, California. This page has been viewed 332 times since then and 8 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on March 1, 2014, by James King of San Miguel, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. Wide area view of the marker and its surroundings. • Photo of the museum. • Can you help?