This is a fantastic tour. Our guide Frank, one of the founders of the non-profit which maintains everything, gave us a very informative and entertaining tour. If you like mining history, this is a must. Even if you don't, it is well worth doing. There is so much to see here, all beautifully restored and preserved. All these years of driving by on Hwy 49, and I had idea how much was down here to see. read more

Fascinating tour - learned so much about the gold mining industry and the history of the area. Bob did a great job making it interesting and educational. The foundation has done an excellent job restoring history and making it available to everyone. read more

Took the guided tour at the Kennedy Gold Mine. Both myself and my boyfriend had not been to the Kennedy Mine other than passing by it when in the area. They have a large outdoor area that has some of the old equipment on display. There is also a small museum area and gift shop. They have a cute little area with trinkets you can purchase. They staff was very friendly, greeted us with a warm welcome when we arrived. We had about a half hour before our tour started so we browsed the museum. There is a restroom located outside the museum in a building just across the walk way. Our tour was just over 90 minutes and our guide was extremely knowledgeable. The tour started in the museum, we watched a video on the mine as well as learned about the placer mining and hydro mining. We visited a few buildings around the property, saw how the large rock grinders work and the machinery used to extract the gold from the sand. How they tested samples. We were able to see the engineers office, the pay station, safe, office and bunk house. They have a small building dedicated to the 47 lost in Argonaut mine. It was really cool seeing all the machines they used and getting a history of the Mine back in its operating days. read more

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Driven by the mine many times before we decided to visit and take the tour. It was very eye opening what the miners went through during the time the mine was operating. Also learned a little about the resources the mine pulled from like the use of mercury and how it came from San Jose. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and basically showed us all of the aspects of mining. I totally recommend taking this tour, we weren't able to go into the mines due to flooding from the recent rains, but there are plenty of machinery and buildings of interest, plus a small museum and souvenir shop. read more

Great tour totally worth it everyone do it learned a lot! Do the guided tour it was so informative ! read more

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A great historical relic of the gold rush days. Very nice little museum and very knowledgeable people there to answer questions.

Great tours with knowledgeable docents. The entire tour is about 1.5 hours and the gift shop is definitely worth checking out. I'd recommend Kennedy Gold Mine to anyone who is in the area. read more

Had a great time on our tour! It is well worth the cost! The tour guide was knowledgeable and full of stories. We even got to go into the main mine headquarters that you can't go into on the self-tour! We will definitely be back! read more

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This is a beautiful place! I love history and seeing it come to life. This place shows the amazing history of the gold mines and the lives of the miners that worked here. Inside the museum you can see examples of what the miners would wear and the contents of their lockers. Outside you can see examples of the system they used to pan for gold. If you are planning a weekend to Amador or are in the area and want to take your family on a day trip this is a great stop to learn a little history in between wine tastings. read more

Kennedy Gold Mine Tours - Early birdies hey pictures - Tours Near Me - Jackson, California

What an absolute treasure. Took my mom who was in from Texas. We went to Empire mine. I've been to gold Bug. Both Pale in comparison to Kennedy. The buildings, the artifacts, the stories are incredible enough. But top it off with a 90 minute tour by Doug and it's just over the top good. He is so passionate And knowledgeable (and all staff are volunteers!). Really made it easy to picture and imagine what that mining life was like. There are self guided tours too but you're doing yourself a disservice if you don't take his tour. read more

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We recently toured the Kennedy Gold Mine on a trip to the area. Our volunteer tour guide Harold spent over one hour taking us on a tour of the grounds, showing us the equipment and the mine head frame and explaining the purpose of each piece of equipment. He also took us through the mine office building where the gold was smelted and formed into bricks. Harold shared with us the history of the mine and its daily operations; and he explained what the life of a mine worker was like. The Kennedy Gold Mine has restored film footage from 1914 which allows visitors to get visual demonstrations of what the mine area looked like and the operations that were performed there. This short film is presented during the tour. It is not possible to tour the mine itself because much of it is filled with ground water. When the mine was in operation, it was only accessible by traveling on vertical skiff. Although the stamp mill is now a ruin, there is scale model of the stamp mill inside the building where you purchase your tour tickets. This tour exceeded my expectations and the related fee was a reasonable $12.00 per adult. We highly recommend it if you are interested in the rich history of California. read more

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This 'gem' of a spot is one of the last tours available in the gold country vein ... it is worth the two hours of a robust education on the mine and the mine workers. There is a short film clip and also a walking tour. The volunteer docent (Harold) is quite a nugget himself ... he cares deeply about the mine and volunteers his time to keep it going. The cost is about $12 and a bit of tip for the docent and it's worth every ounce! Stop at the gift shot for old time candy, post cards, polished stones and service with a smile. The grounds are beautiful... skip the touristy panning experience and get a rush on this tour experience. It's worth the time in gold! read more

The tour was only $15 and it was totally worth it!! I had so much fun and the staff were all volunteers. Honestly they were all very kind and throughly explained everything. Definitely recommend! read more

What a wonderful hidden gem! A must see to learn about the era of gold mining. The exhibits are amazing and the whole tour is well put together, organized and informative. The volunteers are so knowledgeable. All for $15.00! There is plenty of parking and some outside tables if you want to take a picnic. read more

Visited The mine for the first time on a Sunday this summer It was very interesting and so historical We learned so much from our tour guide Harold he knew so many facts about the Gold Mine it was about 90 minutes you sit and watch a quick film about the Gold Mine then you walk around the grounds. Everyone should see and learn about this historical place. read more

Kennedy Gold Mine Tours - Building where they made the gold bars ,offices and accommodations for VIPs and Tower for mining the gold thousands of feet below the ground - Tours Near Me - Jackson, California

There aren 't enough words to say how happy I am with the Kennedy Mine Tours. We were rather late for our tour because getting 2 little boys on track first thing in the morning was like herding cats. But in spite of our tardiness, they had 2 docents waiting for us, taking the boys for a special tour, complete with some actual gold panning. The other docent took us old folks through the history of the mine, the geology of the gold country, and through the mine offices. It was very informative, and he made sure we didn't miss anything. So, big shout-out to Harold and Doug for taking such good care of us, and making sure that we all had a good time. Would recommend to any geology buffs, history buffs, and nature buffs. It is a great venue, and they also host musical events on the weekends. read more

Fantastic tour and guide! Very comprehensive waling tour and video of fascinating deep gold mining operation! Highly recommend this tour - we have spent over 20 years exploring 50 states and most of Canada - do not miss this experience! read more

Attended the Houserockers Band concert for the second year in a row. Awesome band. Danced the night away. Great volunteers made it happen. I hope the band continues to come to Jackson and I will definitely be there. read more

We came here for the Paranormal Tour at night and we had a great time! The tour guides were very knowledgeable about the area and it's history. Although I'm not much of a believer, it was a fun way to spend a Saturday night- we had a few good scares! Would recommend ‍ read more

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We LOVE the Kennedy Mine and all of its history, exhibits, tours and hikes! We came this time at night for the Paranormal Tour with the whole family! It was an amazing and fun night! Harold gave an overview of the mines history, and Donna and Kevin led us through some communications with the spirits. Half of our group are believers and the other half not so much, we did connect with a spirt in the Rec Room and during a spirit box encounter our daughters name was mentioned. There was a lot of activity in the main building and some things that happened that were new to the experienced people in our group! Thank you Donna and Kevin, half of my family will be back!! read more

There's gold in them there hills!!! Walk the grounds of the deepest gold mine in the United States and learn about the gold country of California. The old mine is now owned by a nonprofit group. The tour and grounds are very interesting. The guides are volunteers, mostly retired people from the area that have some history connection with the mine. So don't expect a fast paced tour, do expect a fair amount of walking. And lots of side stories about the mine, the area and the people. The mine head still stands and looks like it could almost be turned on and used again. Our guide went into a lot of detail in its operation. The property has several buildings on site and you will learn what they where used for. On the hill was the main office, a unique three story concrete building that is restored from top to bottom. There are several missing structures that the guide talked about and had pictures of. For $10 donation plan on spending almost three hours and bring water. Wear a hat- it gets very hot. Tours run from April to October read more

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Great tour. Very informative. We enjoyed our visit and would recommend. While you cannot go inside the mine, you can go inside a mockup of the mine, view the museum and grounds, walk inside the gated area where the mine shaft is located and tour the mining offices. read more

Wonderful tour with a very knowledgeable guide. The history of this mine is fascinating and something to know particularly when you live in this area. The miners and their work will be something we all remember for a long time. The processing of gold from rock is incredibly interesting as well. The staff of the Kennedy Gold Mine was great and we all really appreciated their help in making this tour so good. read more

The tour guide we were so lucky to have gotten led us on a very thorough, engaging and hands on tour of this once highly productive mine bringing to life the industry that helped found the State of Cal. and the extreme hardships endured by the miners. Our guide was a walking encyclopedia and was also great at plainly explaining some of the dryer subject matter to us, and the children also attending. read more

We recently toured the Kennedy Gold Mine with Harold, our 15 year volunteer docent. It was very evident that Harold was both passionate and very knowledgeable as he spent close to 2 hrs taking us on a tour of the grounds, showing us the equipment, the mine head frame, and explaining the purpose of each piece of equipment. Prior to the tour, we viewed a short restored film from 1914 which allows us to see what the mine was like and the operations that were performed there. While it's not possible to tour the mine, there is a short "underground mine" display to enter to see what life was like underground. Harold also took us through the 3 story mine office building where the gold was smelted, formed into 125 lb bricks and transported via stagecoach. After the tour, plan to spend additional time reading the sign and photo boards. We spent an additional 2 hrs as there is plenty more to see! Also wear good walking shoes and bring water. Full disclosure I've toured many other mines and reviewed the Kennedy Gold Mine website prior. The tour and Harold exceeded my expectations and I enjoyed his knowledge. The tour was a bargain at $12.00 per adult. read more

This mine, from the 1860's, is noted as being one of the deepest gold mines, at 5912 ft, in the world. Unfortunately the mill no longer exists but at least the huge steel headframe still remains and also the large 58 ft 1948 era wooden wheels used to move the tailings. The setting could not be more scenic. One point, this is a surface tour, the visitor does not see any of the underground mine. read more

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The Kennedy Gold Mine is an amazing place to explore. The work the volunteers have done to make your visit to the mine is nothing short of phenomenal. There was a fire there in August 2017 and they have completely redone the area where the fire was. The tour is extremely interesting and informative. The mine has many exhibits which feature how life was during the gold mining era at the Kennedy Mine. I would highly recommend you take the time to take a step back in time and see how they lived in a different time. read more

Kennedy Gold Mine Tours - Kennedy Mine - Tours Near Me - Jackson, California

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This place is really neat and educational. You really get to see how the miners worked and a lot of what they went thru. Our guide, Russel, who is a volunteer, was extremely knowledgeable about all aspects of this place, and was able to answer all of our questions. He made the tour fun and informative. Before we came to do the mine tour, we went to see the tailing wheels. I would recommend doing that first. Then you can do the Kenndy Gold Mine tour. You get alot of history out of it. Very neat. read more

Kennedy Gold Mine Tours - Tours Near Me - Jackson, California

Highly recommend the guided tour. It is $10 each, almost two hours and well worth it. Our guide, Russell, was very knowledgeable and knew his history of the Mine and mining itself. You can do a walking tour on your own, but the guided tour provides so much history. read more

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The volunteers and docents have worked hard to make the grounds, the tours, and the exhibits really interesting. Two hours went by so fast. Each guide has their own style and you get more emphasis on certain details depending on the guide's interests. There are fascinating stories. You get a glimpse into another era. You realize you'd rather be eaten by cannibals than be a gold miner. read more

Great local attraction in Jackson. The Kennedy Mine has wonderful knowledgable staff full of information. We've come here numerous times and I've always enjoyed it. The large bar has a small gift shop with really interesting items for sale. Things like gold pans, locally written books and all relevant to this destination. I recommend taking the tour and watching the video that is provided to groups. The video is usually watched inside the large barn. You will walk around the premises and go through the large mansion/house. Inside the house is antique typewriter, office machines, antique furnishings and many things to look at for all ages. Inside the large house/mansion there are lots of stairs and this tour requires lots of walking. read more

Like their tour. You should use their main entrance where there is small driveway adjacent to the church and DONT use their map address via any GPS. It will lead you to their back gate that is locked read more

Great place to learn details of the California Gold Rush. The people who work here are so knowledgeable and kind. The man who gave our tour did a great job at explaining things at the right level for my kids and I learned a lot too. read more

We greatly appreciate Doug, our volunteer for the tour! There was no tour on the day of our family's visit, Doug had to make a special trip for us. He's highly knowledgeable and truly devoted. Kiddos experienced lots of hands-on, received a lot of information. The experience is invaluable. We would definitely recommend Kennedy Gold Mine to everyone who is hungry for the history of gold rush. read more

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Very interesting and informative tour. Very scenic setting. My 5-year old spend 3 dollars of his pocket money on a little bottle with gold flakes. Back home in Brussels, he dropped it and cried for an hour. I wrote an email to the Kennedy Gold Mine to ask them if it was possible to send me another bottle - with me paying for it of course. Two weeks later, my son received another bottle, for free, one of the volunteers working at the mine payed for it. Such an incredibly kind gesture! read more

This is an old gold mine, with lots of history. Only open on weekend, but friendly with informative people. They also have some panning available for the kids. They will do tours during the week by appointment only. read more

Kennedy Gold Mine Tours - Tours Near Me - Jackson, California

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Okay so story time. I had to go to the Kennedy mine for a school project. I pull up and the gate is wide open. I park my car get out. These three older ladies come out and yell at me. They accused me of breaking into the gate and were genuinely very rude to me. They asked who told me I was allowed to be there and interrogated me for way longer than necessary. I would not consider going back for a tour just because of how unfriendly everyone was to me. read more

I took my 4th grade class on the Kennedy Gold Mine tour yesterday. What a fantastic way to wrap up our unit on the California Gold Rush! Many thanks to Dennis and all of the fantastic docents. Our two classes moved through the rotations without a hitch. Each of our tour guides was very knowledgable and interacted positively with the students. After finishing the tour we ate our lunches at the covered picnic tables. It was a great way to spend the day! I highly recommend this trip to anyone who teaches 4th grade social studies! read more

My husband and I took the tour on Oct. 1st. It was so worth the $10 each admission price. The docent gave a very informative one hour tour. We learned a lot about the history of mining at the Kennedy Mine. There is so much to see even though you do not go into the mine you do get to go into the mine office. Recommend highly, a great learning experience. read more

You're not a real Californian until you get up into Gold Country and see what made us the hotbed which we are today. I highly recommend going to this place and the surrounding area in Amador County. Steeped in history, going on the tour here is like a blast form the past. I have a vivid imagination, so for me it was a wonderful experience envisioning the area as the wild west that it once was...and still is! The Kennedy Mine also has an outdoor amphitheater that is great for seeing plays and concerts. It is a grass and gravel terraced theater that can hold a couple hundred. Don't expect to see any Indie rock bands here though. Bluegrass and authentic folk and country are what enliven this joint! I recently saw a Jersey themed version of Shakespeare's' 'Taming of the Shrew' and I thought it was a delight. Not exactly Tony award winning material, but a delight nonetheless. Don't bring your highbrow expectations to this place....it is meant to be relaxing, authentic, educational, down-home, and folky. Friendly people and good times for all!!! read more