California State Mining & Mineral Museum

Mariposa Fairgrounds, 5007 Fairgrounds Road. Mariposa, California 95338

If you’re interested in the history of mineral’s & mining then this is the place! 

Front entrance

Boasting California’s official mineral collection containing over 13,000 objects from California and around the world. While taking a tour you will find many gems, mineral specimens, crystalline gold, mining artifacts and a mine tunnel you may walk through.

This collection has been in Mariposa since 1983. Prior to that, San Francisco was its home for over 100 years.

We spent most of the morning & afternoon exploring this spectacular place. Very informative about each specimen and the history surrounding it. The two rangers hosting this site are full of information and colorful stories. A must see!

My only caveat is they don’t allow anyone to take photographs inside for security reasons. I sure would have loved a close up picture or two…

No worries, I still had fun!

Front entrance, view from parking lot
Plaque near the entrance door

By Maggie

I use a combination of my iPhone and my Fujifilm X-E2 camera for all my photographs. Just depends on where I am as to which one I'll use to take my pictures with. I love to write original stories combined with my photographs. If you'd like to send me a message or comment, please do so at; maggie@hungryones.com We just celebrated our 14th Anniversary this October 2016!! So exciting!! 2015 A couple since 2003 and now on the precipice of this new journey, our fondest hope is this website serves a purpose. One of useful information presented in an elegant, beautiful photographic setting. Together we love to discover new restaurants, food trucks, diners, café’s, huts or where ever we find food being served. The love of artful, carefully crafted, passionately orchestrated food, beverages and let’s not forget desert, Is something we both enjoy immensely. Immersing ourselves in the history, culture and surrounding locations of our adventures hopefully leads to not only meeting new people, but making new friends, sharing ideas, listening to stories and learning something new everyday. Maggie

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