One thing I learned after moving to Concord, North Carolina just over seven years ago is that Cabarrus County has many hidden treasures. Over the next few weeks I’ll be writing about many of these treasures including the location of the first gold discovery in the United States.
Reed Gold Mine is named for its founder, John Reed, whose son found a large yellow rock in Hidden Meadow Creek on a Sunday in 1799. The rock reportedly was 17 pounds and used as a door stop in the Reed home until a Fayetteville jeweler identified the rock and purchased it for $3.50 – one tenth of its value – just a few years later. At its peak, the mine produced over $1million a year in gold and lead North Carolina to be the largest producer of gold until the 1848 gold rush in California.
Today Reed Gold Mine is a treasure even though it is no longer mined for gold. The family friendly historic park gives you the opportunity to pan for gold for just $2 and tour the mines for free. Children will have a unique opportunity to experience the site of the first “gold rush” in America’s history.
Following is an invitation to experience the Christmas season with our friends at Reed Gold Mine.
Reed Gold Mine State Historic Site hosts its annual A Golden Christmas Celebration on Saturday, December 6, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This year’s event features a unique look at how Christmas was celebrated in the North Carolina backcountry in the early 19th century. Focusing on John Reed’s
German heritage, we will explore the Germanic origins of our modern day traditions. We will also include Cornish and Scotch Irish traditions, as these cultures made up a large part of the residents in this area at that time.
If you have never been to Reed Gold Mine during the Christmas season you have not experienced Reed Gold Mine. It is the only place you can take a candlelight tour during the day. Special tours are given by costumed interpreters with the mine illuminated by lanterns and candlelight, much as it would have been when the mine was active. Tours focus on the miners who were working and how they would have celebrated the holidays. Come see America’s first gold mine decorated for Christmas.
Enjoy refreshments and cookies provided by the Cabarrus County Extension and Community Association. For those who simply cannot get enough Christmas music, local choirs will be presenting their programs in the auditorium, while craftsmen display their quilting, lace, toy making, and other amazing talents. The Christmas Celebration is free of charge and open to the public.
Reed Gold Mine is located in southeastern Cabarrus County—12 miles southeast of Concord, 25 miles east of Charlotte, and 18 miles west of Albemarle. For more information, call 704-721-4653, or email us at johnreed1799@gmail.com.
Reed Gold Mine will be closed November 27 & 28, 2008 for Thanksgiving, and December 24, 25, & 26, 2008 for Christmas.
