Golden Landscapes: Cultural Resources Management at Empire Mine State Historic Park

Purpose of the Study: The 2013 National Register of Historic Places listing amendment for Empire Mine State Historic Park (EMSHP) expanded the boundaries of the Empire Mine Historic District to include over 1,700 newly recorded historical resource features within 490 historic archaeological and built environment sites. Recent remediation projects have made it necessary to develop a comprehensive cultural resource management plan that takes into account the entire range of resources present at EMSHP. Based upon recent cultural resource studies undertaken due to toxic chemical remediation activities, this thesis provides recommendations for additional recreational and interpretive opportunities at the various historic mining features located at EMSHP.\ud Procedure: Investigations of the cultural resources at EMSHP have been taking place over the past 5 years due to recent remediation activities. The geographically large structures, buildings, and objects from over 150 years of gold mining form a historic mining landscape that is used to interpret the industry of gold mining in the Mother Lode. This thesis utilizes this information gained from a park-wide inventory and archaeological excavations recently to develop a comprehensive plan for cultural resource management and interpretation of this industrial historic mining landscape.\ud Findings: All management and interpretive activities can be conducted with an overall emphasis on the historical mining landscape and the visitor's place within this landscape. All of these efforts are based upon providing preservation and protection of historical resources, while sharing the varied and storied gold mining past of California. Efforts are most successful when significance is demonstrated and there is a local community interested in preserving cultural resources. There are important issues regarding historical resources including establishing personal identity, control over the past and future, and preservation issues that are continuous. Interpretation and protection of historical resources takes a great deal of sustained effort.\ud Conclusions: Implementing recommended policies and strategic action plan EMSHP will meet the goals to manage and preserve values associated with cultural resources; to provide recommendations for the interpretation of cultural resources; and to keep the public safe while providing high quality outdoor recreation opportunities. Which is a goal included in the California State Parks mission statement "To provide for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state's extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation."\ud Implementation of these policies is appropriate at a park-wide level. Superintendents, law-enforcement, maintenance, interpretive and all ranges of California State Park personnel can benefit from reading and adopting the policies suggested. The policies and strategic action plans provide the groundwork for revealing and allowing park visitors to see and understand the remains of gold mining activities that span over 100 years and are present throughout EMSHP