The annual membership meeting is scheduled for Saturday May 23, 2026 at the museum 356 Main Street, Alleghany. 10:00 AM Please RSVP by email undergroundgold33@gmail.com if you plan on attending. Open to current members and sponsors only.

STEVEN CHARLES BELL February 17, 1968 – January 25, 2026 Steven Bell Age 14 Steven was born in Simi Valley, California to Don and Audrey Bell. The family (parents and four kids) moved to Northern California in 1974 to pursue Don Bell’s gold mining ambitions and to get out of suburbia. In 1975 the family moved to the Mott Cabin at The Ruby Mine located (as the crow flies) between the towns of Alleghany and Downieville. The drive to Alleghany was shorter than to Downieville,

In Memory of Thomas “Bud” DeGrio April 28, 1945 – December 21, 2024 It is with a heavy heart that we dedicate this year’s newsletter to the memory of longtime museum director Thomas “Bud” DeGrio. A miner through and through, Bud started working in the local gold mines with his dad at age 11. In his own words: “It was April 1961, my 16th birthday! I couldn’t wait to “hire on” at the 16 to 1 gold mine for the summer. The mine Boss was Wilford Hart; underground Boss, Tom Hog

Underground Gold Miners Museum (UGMM) is working with the daughter of mining geologist and historian Willard “Bill” Fuller to publish her...

Independent Messenger – Thursday August 23, 1984 EXCERPTS FROM DR. W.G. HARDIE’S MEDICAL LEDGER By Joe Smith The following entries were...

For at least three years, the lights over the Phil O'Donnell drill collection haven't worked. With the help of a generous donation from...

Thomas “Bud” Michel DeGrio passed away unexpectedly on the 21st of December 2024 surrounded by family in Sonora, CA. Bud was born April...

Date and Time: Saturday May 31, 2025 11 am Location: Underground Gold Miners Museum 356 Main Street, Alleghany Informational Documents...

(Printable PDF linked below) Preserving History an Iota at a Time Thirty Years and Counting! On February 16, 2025, Underground Gold...

Sunday July 2, 2023 ~ Last week’s article ended with a little history on the Ruby Mine (aka Guatemala) located at the northern edge of...

RUBY MINE Last week I shared that my family moved from Southern California to Grass Valley in 1974. Today I will share how we ended up...

UGMM Director and Docent Chris Smith (left) and Michael Miller cranking things up!

Live Music by The Tyler Foote Walkers Liquid Light Show Where: Alleghany's Old School Gym ~ 529 Miners Street Alleghany When: Friday May...

Carbide lamps are an icon of underground mining. Introduced in 1901, they were such a major improvement over candles that they were...

Frederick Kuhfeld Jr. was born in the town of Minnesota on May 12, 1866. Later referred to as Minnesota Flat, the boomtown was located on...

– Hospitality in Sierran Town is Most Lavish. The festivities pass off in a manner reflecting much credit upon those having charge of the...

Season’s Greetings from Alleghany! We hope that this year’s newsletter finds you and yours doing well. After a relatively cool summer, we...

Merle Eva Marguerite Bradbury was the only child of Thomas and Lizetta (Nihill) Bradbury. Merle was born on September 9, 1895 in a house...

First Stock Certificate issued by Original Sixteen to One Mine Inc. the oldest Gold Mining Corporation in the United States! Issued on...