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Looking for things to do in Grass Valley? Visit North Star House for local history, architecture, tours, and community events.

The story of North Star House in Grass Valley, California begins with the North Star Mine, one of the most significant names in California gold mining history. Long before the house became a place for tours, events, preservation work, and community gatherings, it was tied to the mining industry that helped shape Grass Valley. Together, the North Star Mine and North Star House tell a larger story about hard-rock gold mining, engineering, architecture, family life, and the peop

Over a century ago, A.B. Foote. then superintendent of the North Star Mine and one of the visionaries behind the North Star House, served as Grand Marshal of the July 4th parade in Grass Valley.

The North Star Mine covered over 700 acres and played a crucial role in California's gold mining history from 1851 to 1956.

Mary Hallock Foote was celebrated as one of the most talented and accomplished illustrators and writers of the late 1800s.

What began as a dream of dedicated volunteer gardeners became a journey of discovery of the rich horticultural legacy of the estate.

Where history is rooted not only in the brick and mine rock terrace designed by Julia Morgan but in the very landscape that surrounds it.

In 1904, a newly licensed Julia Morgan was commissioned to design North Star House—a structure that would serve multiple purposes.

A discovery that sheds light on Morgan’s pivotal role in a massive wartime effort—one that has gone largely unrecognized.

Born in San Francisco, CA in 1872 – Died in San Francisco, CA in 1957 Julia Morgan Julia Morgan is one of America's most celebrated architects. Among her many achievements, she was one of the first women to earn a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley (1894), the first woman accepted to and to graduate from the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts in Paris with a degree in architecture (1902), and the first licensed female architect in California

Born in Guilford, CT in 1849 – Died in Hingham, MA in 1933 Arthur De Wint Foote Arthur De Wint Foote was born in Guilford, Connecticut, and pursued Civil Engineering at Yale’s Sheffield Scientific School. Though eye problems forced him to leave before completing his degree, his passion for learning never waned. Foote spent his career as an engineer, mine manager, consultant, and surveyor, constantly moving between mining operations across the American West—including Californ

Born in Milton, NY in 1847 – Died in Hingham, MA in 1938 Mary Hallock Foote Mary Hallock Foote was born in Milton, New York, and raised in a Quaker household that valued literature, lively discussions, and intellectual curiosity. From an early age, her artistic talent was recognized and nurtured. She attended the Poughkeepsie Female Seminary before receiving formal art training at the Cooper Union School of Design for Women in New York City. There, she studied the art of engr

Born 1836 – Boston, MA Died 1908 – Stockbridge, MA James Hague James Duncan Hague was born in Boston and earned an engineering degree from Harvard University before continuing his studies in mining and geology at the University of Göttingen in Hanover, Germany. He furthered his education at the Royal School of Mines in Freiberg, Saxony. After establishing a successful career in mining, Hague married Mary Ward Foote, sister of Arthur De Wint Foote, in 1872. Hague launched