The annual Gold Nugget Days celebration in Paradise, California began in 1959 (the centennial anniversary of the discovery of the 54-pound Dogtown Nugget), and introduced a number of now iconic local traditions: a lively parade, a rowdy donkey derby, even the selection of a Gold Nugget Queen. With the mission of preserving and protecting the history and heritage of the Paradise Ridge - through the collection and display of artifacts, as well as through community education programs - Gold Nugget Days, Inc. was incorporated in 1970.

 

Gold Nugget Days, Inc. oversaw the groundbreaking for the original Gold Nugget Museum in 1978, and the official Grand Opening Celebration began with a ribbon-cutting by the 1980 Gold Nugget Queen on April 23, 1981. The museum has planned and hosted Gold Nugget Days ever since, and over the years, has provided countless services to the surrounding communities, including the popular "Days of Living History" events that gave students from all over Northern California the memorable opportunity to step back in time and experience some of what life would have been like in the 1850s and 1860s.

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On November 8, 2018, the museum was destroyed by the Camp Fire. Refusing to let that be the end of the story of the Gold Nugget Museum, staff and board members resolved to rebuild, with an exciting vision for the future that exceeds everything that has come before.

 

The Gold Nugget Museum is now at its new location at 475 Pearson Road.

After much work, the six-thousand-square-foot building (formerly a transmission shop) has been successfully converted into a modernized museum facility. This would not have been possible without our partnerships and collaborations with several non-profit entities within our community. Currently, the Paradise Gem and Mineral Club occupies a portion of the facility.

 

The Gold Nugget Days, Inc. Board of Directors is working to ensure the rebuilt museum is a key component of the thriving future of Paradise - one that will attract visitors from across the region, and provide constant enjoyment and pride for local residents.