Supervisors Register New Landmark Commemorating Hispanic Miners

The Nevada County Historical Landmarks Commission is delighted to announce that on July 9, 2024, the Nevada County Board of Supervisors designated the remains of an arrastra located in the Tahoe National Forest as Nevada County Historical Landmark NEV 24-04. Because of concerns about vandalism, the precise location is not public.

The arrastra (from the Spanish arrastrar-to drag) is a device for crushing ore, used in California gold mines before the advent of stamp mills and then as a cheaper and often more practical alternative. In the 1880s, there were a reported 100 arrastras in use in California. This arrastra is believed to be the only example of original Mexican or Chilean mining technology still in Nevada County and it remains on the site where it was originally used.

Many 49ers had no knowledge about or experience in mining for gold. That lack was filled initially in part by miners from Mexico, Peru and Chile, which had gold and silver mines. Hence the reliance on gold mining technology such as the Mexican arrastra and the Chile mill. Nonetheless, contemporary newspapers generally ignored the Hispanic miners, and they are largely omitted from the principal contemporary histories of Nevada County. Many of them left Nevada County because they experienced discrimination and violence and because of the Foreign Miners Tax. Until now, there were no historical landmarks which reflect the presence of Hispanic miners in Nevada County, or their contributions to the development of the County.

This landmark will be featured in the next edition of the Commission’s book Exploring Nevada County, a guide to all the County’s historical landmarks. The book is available in electronic format for any smartphone or tablet from Apple or Amazon. Go toYou Bet Press to find clickable links. The paperback edition is available from Comstock Bonanza Press.

The purpose of the Nevada County Historical Landmarks Commission is to promote the general welfare of Nevada County and its citizens through official recognition, recording, marking, preserving and promoting the historical resources of Nevada County. For more information, please call 530-264-0115.