Davis Mill
Also known as: Randolph Quartz Mine Millsite; Blm# Ca-018-Yn-26
Why it's listed
Three miles northeast of Nevada City, California, on land managed by the Bureau of Land Management, a corrugated-metal-clad stampmill climbs down a hillside in several levels. Built between 1915 and 1920 for the Davis family, it processed gold ore from their Randolph Mine. The family leased the mine to a mining company in the late 1920s, and the mill may have handled ore from other mines intermittently in the late 1930s before standing idle by the Second World War. Ore entered at the top and moved downward by gravity through the grizzly, ore bin, crusher, five-stamp battery, amalgamating table and concentrators. The crusher, belts and concentrators are gone, but the locally made stamp battery, electric motor, ore bin and retort room remain in place. Most original framing, siding, doors, flooring and stairs survive, and the forested setting resembles its early appearance. The mill was listed for its place in small-scale gold mining history and as an outstanding example of stampmill construction. Recent repairs have kept the building sound and open to visitors.
Significance in brief: The mill is presented as a well-preserved legacy of a small family-run gold mining operation, which was an important theme in local and regional history (Criterion A, Industry). It is also described as an outstanding example of stampmill vernacular, with distinctive type, period and construction characteristics (Criterion C, Architecture). Much of its original equipment, including the stamp battery and motor, remains in place.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 10000157, listed April 1, 2010. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | off North Bloomfield Road; 3 miles NE of Nevada City, Nevada City |
|---|---|
| County | Nevada County |
| Listed | April 1, 2010 |
| Reference number | 10000157 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | Circa 1915-1940 |
| Architectural style | No style (stampmill vernacular) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Industry |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition and accessible to the public after BLM repairs to the roof, windows, stairs and floors; some equipment such as the crusher and concentrators was removed, probably in the 1940s and 1950s. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 39.29035, -120.98929 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 10000157.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19461283
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.