Knight Foundry

The water that worked the mines turned this foundry too, and still does. Knight Foundry opened in 1873 to build and repair heavy equipment for the mines and the timber trade, and Samuel Knight designed a high speed cast iron water wheel here that was a forerunner of the Pelton. Knight wheels went into some of the first hydroelectric plants in California, Utah and Oregon. A forty-two inch one still drives the main line shaft, which makes this the last water powered foundry in the state.

What the plaque says

KNIGHT FOUNDRY KNIGHT FOUNDRY WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1873 TO SUPPLY HEAVY EQUIPMENT AND REPAIR FACILITIES TO THE GOLD MINES AND TIMBER INDUSTRY OF THE MOTHER LODE. SAMUEL N. KNIGHT DEVELOPED A HIGH SPEED, CAST IRON WATER WHEEL WHICH WAS A FORERUNNER OF THE PELTON WHEEL DESIGN. KNIGHT WHEELS WERE USED IN SOME OF THE FIRST HYDROELECTRIC PLANTS IN CALIFORNIA, UTAH, AND OREGON. THIS SITE IS THE LAST WATER POWERED FOUNDRY AND MACHINE SHOP IN CALIFORNIA. A 42 INCH KNIGHT WHEEL DRIVES THE MAIN LINE SHAFT, WITH SMALLER WATER MOTORS POWERING OTHER MACHINES. CALIFORNIA REGISTERED HISTORICAL LANDMARK NO. 1007 PLAQUE PLACED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION IN COOPERATION WITH CARL W. BORGH AND HISTORIC KNIGHT & CO., LTD. OCTOBER 24, 1992

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Columbia State Historic Park — 32 mi
  The Gem of the Southern Mines, still open for business on a car-free Gold Rush main street.

More markers nearby

• Sutter Creek — steps away
• Jackson Gate — 1.7 mi
• Argonaut and Kennedy Mines — 2.1 mi
• Site of Pioneer Jewish Synagogue — 3.3 mi