"An Antique State of Mind"

During the Gold Rush, the streets of downtown Nevada City and Grass Valley teemed with miners and residents going about their business. Today, visitors can experience the charm and beauty of the“olden days” as they visit these historical cities, complete with the original brick buildings that date back to the 1850s.

Both downtown business districts still thrive, with merchants offering distinctive and high quality merchandise to satisfied shoppers, both locals and tourists.

One way to remember your stay in the Gold Country is to take home a portable piece of history, an antique, with you. Both Nevada City and Grass Valley have many fine antique shops chock-full of large and small items for you to choose from. You’ll want to walk around both towns to enjoy taking in all the history. So park your car and follow me on a walking tour of antique shops that is sure to whet your senses.

The Grass Valley/Nevada County Chamber of Commerce at 248 Mill Street is housed in the restored/reconstructed Lola Montez home. It can provide a brochure on antiques shopping, and also a walking tour of Grass Valley. As you stroll along the streets, you can learn about the historical buildings as you are looking for your special treasures to take home.

Begin in Grass Valley, at the corner of Neal and Mill streets. There is public parking at the corner of Neal and Church, one street up. As you head down Mill toward E. Main Street, you will pass the Antique Emporium at 150 Mill, on your left. Fifteen dealers share the space and offer everything from lace tablecloths, silver, china, old coffee cans and milk bottles to oak and pine furniture. Owner Lori Rollins celebrates 20 years in business in 2004 and plans to have an anniversary sale and specials, so watch for these events.

Continuing on down Mill, you will find many more shops: Byars Antiques at 126, Country Rose at 122 and Finders Keepers at 106. When you reach West Main Street, turn left and go up to Clocksmith Antiques at 203 W. Main. Owner Matthew Smith and wife Janet share the shop with seven other dealers and showcase collectibles and Dragon ware in addition to over 50 antique clocks.

Across the street, there’s the Antique Gallery at 202 W. Main and then down the street a couple of blocks, you’ll find the Antique Palace at 138 E. Main, where over 30 dealers want you to find the perfect treasure to take home.

If all this shopping has made you hungry, go back up Main Street and stop into the Railroad Café at 111 W. Main. You can check out their replicas of large gauge steam trains that circulate on tracks overhead while you enjoy breakfast or lunch. They also make great milkshakes. In addition to delicious food, they display and sell vintage photos of Nevada County trains.

From the café, continue down Main, turn right at S. Auburn Street and head down the street until you hit Pioneer Village at 164 S. Auburn Street. Rambling Ruby Antiques, Swanky Décor, & Polka Dot Rose, tucked into the corner, has an eclectic mix from the 1800s to the 1960s. “My problem is that I like it all,” confessed owner Judy Stitt.

Going back up Neal, you will pass À La Mode Vintage at 127 and the Antique Wheel at 129, both on your left, which brings you back to where you started out. It’s time now to hop into your car and drive the four miles to Nevada City where you exit at Broad Street,(and the historical district.)

In Nevada City, begin your walk at the Chamber of Commerce, 132 Main Street, corner of Main and Coyote streets. You can pick up all kinds of interesting information about the city, including a walking tour describing important historical buildings. They also offer fun ‘mining souvenirs’ and commemorative coins in their gift shop.

Then proceed up Main to Shaw’s Antiques and Dry Goods at 210 Main. Shaw’s specializes in estate jewelry from the Victorian era, the 1830’s to the 1890’s and also has a fine selection of sterling silver, crystal and high-end pieces. Established in 1934, Shaw’s has been a family-run business in the same location for three generations which makes it unquestionably Nevada County’s oldest Antiques shop.

Just up the street, check out A Main Street Antique Shop at 214 1/2 Main if you are interested in old and rare books, vintage toys, advertising, post cards and photos.

If you follow Main back down the hill, you will hit Broad Street, the main street of Nevada City. As you head up Broad, La Cache Jewelers at 218 Broad, carries an extensive collection of antique and vintage jewelry. Right next door at 220 Broad Street, Thomas Antiques has a mixture of furniture and collectibles. In back of Utopian Stone and next to the So. Pine Cafe, you will find Inner Sanctum Antiques, which sells rare books and art work.

You might not think of a candy store as an antique- lover’s destination, but Confectionary Mine at the corner of Broad and Pine stocks candy items that are sure to create some nostalgia. Necco’s wafers, Big Hunks and Look bars all bring back memories of movie theaters in the 50’s. The size of the bars hasn’t changed, just the price. They also make their own fudge the old- fashioned way, and have hand-dipped ice cream bars and drumsticks.

Farther up Broad at 316, Brother’s Antiques’ owner John Wibberley specializes in art and pottery and shares the space with seven other dealers. The Magic Carpet at 408 Broad carries antique rugs from the Middle East, antique textiles and ethnic artifacts, including

statues from India, Tibet and Nepal.

As you stroll back down Broad Street, be sure to read the plaque on the brick wall of the Nevada Theatre at 401 Broad. The theatre holds the distinction of being California’s oldest existing theatre. It opened in 1865 and showcased Mark Twain and Jack London, among other famous entertainers.

At the bottom of Broad Street, the lobby of the National Hotel at 211 Broad, has a grandfather clock that is over one hundred years old and some interesting displays of artifacts. The National boasts the title of being the oldest continuously operating hotel in California. There is a collection of vintage cocktail shakers in the National(on display.)

To learn more of the local history and enjoy some fresh mountain air, hop onto a horse drawn carriage for a ride through town. Usually parked in front of the National. Your guide will point out many of the historical points-of-interest, and there are big fluffy blankets to cuddle under for chilly evening rides. As you listen to the clip clop of the horse’s hooves and watch the world pass by at the rate of three miles per hour, you will definitely be in ‘an antique state of mind’.



Grass Valley/Nevada County Chamber of Commerce • 1-800-655-4667

Nevada City Chamber of Commerce • 1-800-655-6569