The Omega Hydraulic Diggings are located one mile north of what was the town of Omega, California

Omega, California

Omega is a former settlement in Nevada County, California. Omega is located east-southeast of Washington. The historical Omega Hydraulic Diggings were located north of the town....

 during the California Gold Rush

California Gold Rush

The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...

. The site is southeast of the unincorporated town of Washington, California

Washington, California

Washington is a census-designated place located in Nevada County, California. Washington is located on the banks of the South Fork of The Yuba River and has a population of approximately two hundred people...

. From SR 20, the diggins are reachable via the gravel Omega Road which merges with Forest Route 29 in small sections.

The hydraulic diggings became a registered California Historical Landmark

California Historical Landmark

California Historical Landmarks are buildings, structures, sites, or places in the state of California that have been determined to have statewide historical significance by meeting at least one of the criteria listed below:...

 (No. 629) on 1958-01-29. The plaque's inscription reads:

ALPHA AND OMEGA


One mile north of here were the towns of Alpha and Omega, named by gold miners

Gold mining

Gold mining is the removal of gold from the ground. There are several techniques and processes by which gold may be extracted from the earth.-History:...

 in the early 1850s. The tremendous hydraulic diggings

Hydraulic mining

Hydraulic mining, or hydraulicking, is a form of mining that uses high-pressure jets of water to dislodge rock material or move sediment. In the placer mining of gold or tin, the resulting water-sediment slurry is directed through sluice boxes to remove the gold.-Precursor - ground...

, visible from near this point, engulfed most of the original townsites. Alpha was the birthplace of famed opera

Opera

Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...

 singer Emma Nevada

Emma Nevada

Emma Nevada was an American operatic soprano particularly known for her performances in operas by Bellini and Donizetti and the French composers Ambroise Thomas, Charles Gounod, and Léo Delibes...

. Mining at Omega continued until 1949, and lumber

Lumber

Lumber or timber is wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production....

ing operations are carried on there today (1958).


California Registered Historical Landmarks Nos. 628-629