Rough & Ready

Located on Rough & Ready Highway between Penn Valley and Grass Valley the town of Rough & Ready offers small town charm with a rich history and a robust spirit. On April 7th, 1850 in protest of a government imposed mining tax the townspeople got together and decided to secede from the Union thus forming the Great Republic of Rough & Ready as a free and independent republic. This lasted only 3 months and was reversed on July 4th when a combination of patriotism and according to some a refusal of Grass Valley and Nevada City saloons refusal to sell alcohol to “foreigners” another meeting was held and they unanimously agreed to rejoin the Union. The town celebrates this every year with Secession Days.