The Kennedy Mine made an exclusive list when its historic district was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on Jan. 22.

Word came two weeks later when an announcement of the listing was made by the National Park Service to California's state historic preservation officer, Milford Donaldson, on Feb. 4. Placement on the National Register affords the Kennedy Mine inclusion in the nation's official list of cultural resources worthy of preservation. It provides for incentives for preservation of historic properties, including special building codes, tax advantages and eligibility for grants for restoration.

The Kennedy Mine Foundation is currently building an archive building, which will be used to house historical mining documents, employment records, maps and photographs dating back as far as 1860. The documents in this building will be available to both visiting historians and the public.

The mine's total production over the years made it one of the greatest blue chip investments of the day. Amador County was economically unaffected by the depression in the late 1920s and early '30s because the gold mines in the area kept operating throughout that time period. During its operation, the Kennedy Mine was one of the state's largest mines and was the deepest gold mine in the world, descending to 5,912 feet below the surface.

For more information, contact Kathy Allen at 296-7176.