National Register of Historic Places

Griffith Quarry

Penryn, Placer County, California
Listed
October 19, 1977
Type
Site
Period
Listed
Ref No.
77000322

About this property

Griffith Quarry, a registered California Historical Landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was a former granite quarry near Penryn, California. The quarry was established by Griffith Griffith, a native of Wales, in 1864. The quarry produced high-quality granite used to construct many buildings in San Francisco and Sacramento, including parts of the California State Capitol. The 23 acres (9.3 ha) that surround the 2-storey building, made of granite blocks, are the remains of the quarry and its polishing mill. This mill was the first successful granite polishing mill in California. The office of Penryn Granite Works, which ran the quarry, is now the Griffith Quarry Museum that contains history about the site as well as other local history. Some of the original furniture of the Griffith Quarry is intact. Dirt walking trails can be found throughout the 23-acre park. These trails take visitors through the ruins of the polishing mill and some of the quarry holes from which granite was taken. Printed trail guides are available in the museum. California Historical Landmarks in Placer County, California National Register of Historic Places listings in Placer County, California Official Griffith Quarry Museum website Archived 2014-01-09 at the Wayback Machine Penryn Granite Quarry — walks through Griffith Quarry — a collection of photos of the quarry.

Location

Penryn, Placer County, California
38.84976, -121.16287

Categories

INDUSTRYCOMMERCEHISTORIC - NON-ABORIGINAL
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Griffith Quarry

This page lists Griffith Quarry. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Griffith Quarry report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Griffith House
Industrial
0.3 mi
Newcastle Portuguese Hall
Industrial
2 mi
Auburn Fire House No. 2
Industrial
5.5 mi
Old Auburn Historic District
Listed
5.5 mi
California Granite Company
Listed
5.7 mi

Questions about this property

When was Griffith Quarry listed on the National Register?

Griffith Quarry was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 19, 1977.

What type of historic resource is Griffith Quarry?

Griffith Quarry is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Griffith Quarry?

The period of significance for Griffith Quarry is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Griffith Quarry?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Griffith Quarry will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Placer County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Placer County.

Explore PlacerCounty ›

More historic places in California

Browse all historic places in California.

View Californiahistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

California history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Californiahistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Griffith Quarry will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report