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| Landmark #885 | Placer County | Visited: April 4, 2015 | Plaque? YES! 🙂 |
| What is it? | The Griffith Quarry and Museum! |
| What makes it historical? | THE GUIDE SAYS: Established in the fall of 1864 by Mr. Griffith Griffith, a native of Wales, the quarry located near this site supplied high-quality granite for a number of the important buildings in San Francisco and Sacramento, including portions of the State Capitol. This was also the site of the state’s first successful commercial granite polishing mill, erected in 1874.
OTHER TIDBITS: This Griffith Griffith is not to be confused with the Griffith Griffith who sponsored the Griffith Park and Observatory in Los Angeles! Instead, this quarry provided granite for the California state capitol, US Mint branch office in San Francisco, and Fort Alcatraz! In order to get the granite to these construction sites, Mr. Griffith had a spur track, which carried granite blocks by gravity alone to the nearest Central Pacific Railroad station! (Oxen pulled it back to the quarry!) This landmark is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places! |
| How can I Help the Helpers? | HERE’S HOW:
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| Where is this place? | LISTED DIRECTIONS: SE corner of Taylor and Rock Springs Rds Penryn, CA 95663 ANNOTATIONS: From Los Angeles: ~413mi (665km) — 6.9hrs |
| When should I go? | You can visit the quarry any time you like, but the museum is only open Saturdays and Sundays from noon until 4:00 PM! |
