Iron Miners - Documenting the Historic Mines of America

Alaska

El Dorado Gold Mine
Website: www.eldoradogoldmine.com
Address: 1.3 Mile Elliott Hwy, Fox, AK 99709
Contact: (907) 479-6673

Independence Mine
Website: dnr.alaska.gov/parks/units/indmine.htm
Directions: http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/units/indminemp.pdf (PDF)
Description: Take a tour of the above ground mill and extensive ruins in this now state park.
Notes: No underground tour is available.

Juneau Gold Mine Tour
Website: www.juneau-guide.com/trJuneauGold.htm
Address: 151 Mill Street, Juneau, AK 99801
Contact: (907) 463-3900

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Arizona

Good Enough Mine
Website: www.roadsideamerica.com/story/15150
Address: 5th & Toughnut Street, Tombstone, AZ 85638
Contact: (520) 255-0552

Queen Mine
Website: www.queenminetour.com
Directions: www.queenminetour.com/directions.php
Contact: 1 (866) 432-2071 (Toll Free) or (520) 432-2071
Notes: Reservations strongly suggested.
Description: An underground tour of one of the most successful copper mines during the 20th century.

Vulture Mine
Website: www.jpc-training.com/pg06.htm
Directions: www.jpc-training.com/pg07.htm#About
Contact: (602) 859-2743
Notes: Tour only the above ground ruins. No underground tour available.

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California

Eagle and High Peak Mine Tour
Website: www.yelp.com/biz/eagle-and-high-peak-mine-tour-julian
Address: 2320 C Street, Julian, CA 92036 (located between Henry Silvers Lane and Miners Road)
Contact: (760) 765-0036

Eureka Tunnel
Website: www.plumas-eureka.org
Directions: www.plumas-eureka.org/visitor-info.html
Description: Located in Plumas-Eureka State Park, the Eureka Tunnel can be explored self-guided for a short distance. The park also includes a museum, a working blacksmith shop, assay office, livery stable and a stamp mill.

Gold Bug Mine
Website: www.goldbugpark.org/
Address: 2635 Gold Bug Lane, Placerville, CA 95667 (one mile north of Hwy 50 on Bedford Ave.)
Contact: (530) 642-5207
Notes: Guided and self-guided tours available.

Gold Cliff Mine
Website: www.caverntours.com/Gold_Cliff.html
Directions: Mailed after reservation is made.
Notes: Currently closed while development of a walking tour trail is in progress. Trip by pre-paid reservation only.

Hazel-Atlas Mine Tour
Website: www.ebparks.org/parks/black_diamond
Directions: Via Google Map
Address: 5175 Somersville Road, Antioch, CA 94509
Contact: 1 (888) 327-2757 (Toll Free)
Notes: Pre-registration is required.

Kennedy Gold Mine
Website: www.kennedygoldmine.com
Directions: www.kennedygoldmine.com/images/kennedymap2.jpg
Contact: (209) 223-9542
Notes: No underground tour available.

Original Sixteen to One Mine
Website: www.origsix.com/tmarticle.asp?id=330
Directions: www.origsix.com/tmarticle.asp?id=321
Notes: Tours offered on a limited basis. Contact Michael Miller to schedule a visit.

Sutter Gold Mine
Website: www.caverntours.com/sgmt.html
Directions: www.caverntours.com/SGmap.html
Contact: 1 (866) 762-2837 (Toll Free) or (209) 736-2708

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Colorado

Argo Gold Mine and Mill
Website: www.historicargotours.com
Directions: www.historicargotours.com/directions.html
Contact: (303) 567-2421

Bachelor-Syracuse Mine Tour
Website: www.bachelorsyracusemine.com
Directions: www.bachelorsyracusemine.com/location.htm
Address: 1222 County Road 14, Ouray, CO 81427
Contact: (970) 325-0220

Carbonate Mine
Website: www.carbonatemine.com
Directions: Directions provided upon reservation.
Contact: (720) 226-0702
Notes: Tours available only during peek summer months and dependent on weather. Mine is a frigid 28 degrees Fahrenheit!

Compromise Mine
Website: www.allaspen.com/history_museums/compromise_mine.php
Directions: www.allaspen.com/history_museums/compromise_mine.php
Contact: (970) 925-3699
Notes: Reservations required. Nearby the Smuggler Mine.

Country Boy Mine
Website: www.countryboymine.com
Directions: www.countryboymine.com/directions.html
Contact: (973) 453-4405

Creede Underground Mining Museum
Website: www.museumtrail.org/CreedeUndergroundMiningMuseum.asp
Address: 503 Forest Service Rd #9, Creede, CO 81130
Notes: While not technically a mine, this museum is entirely underground and depicts a real mining environment.

Edgar Mine
Website: www.mines.edu/EdgarMine
Directions: Bottom of www.mines.edu/EdgarMine
Contact: (303) 567-2911
Notes: Tours must be booked in advance. Call for reservations.

Hardtack Mine
Website: hardtack81235.tripod.com
Directions: hardtack81235.tripod.com/directions.html
Contact: (970) 944-2506

Hidee Mine
Website: www.hideegoldmine.com
Directions: www.hideegoldmine.com/location.html
Address: MM 6.3 Central City Parkway, Central City, CO 80427
Contact: (720) 548-0343
Notes: Call or email for reservations.

Hopemore Mine
Website: www.hopemoreminetour.com
Directions: www.hopemoreminetour.com/contact.aspx
Address: 2921 County Road 1, Leadville, CO 80461
Contact: (719) 486-0301
Notes: Reservations are required.

Last Chance Mine NEW!
Website: www.lastchancemine.com
Address: 504 Last Chance Mine Rd, Creede, CO 81130
Contact: 1 (719) 238-7959
Notes: The only mine open and authentic in the Creede mining district.

Lebanon Silver Mine (via Georgetown Loop Railroad)
Website: www.georgetownlooprr.com
Contact: 1 (888) 456-6777
Notes: Order tickets in advance at https://www.dynamicticketsolutions.com/georgetownloop/index.cfm. Access to mine is made by riding the narrow gauge Georgetown Loop Railroad.

Lost Mine Tour
Website: www.salida.com/lostmine/
Directions: See www.salida.com/lostmine/
Contact: (719) 539-7786
Notes: Advanced registration recommended. Requires hiking down a sloping rocky path to access.

Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine Tour
Website: www.goldminetours.com
Address: 9388 Highway 67, Cripple Creek, CO 80813
Contact: (719) 689-2466

Old Hundred Gold Mine Tour
Website: www.minetour.com
Directions: www.minetour.com/mineLocation.htm
Address: 721 County Road 4-A, Silverton, CO 81433
Contact: 1 (800) 872-3009 (Toll Free) or (970) 387-5444

Phoenix Gold Mine Tours
Website: www.phoenixgoldmine.com
Directions: www.phoenixgoldmine.com/map.html
Contact: (303) 567-0422

Smuggler Mine
Website: www.allaspen.com/history_museums/smuggler_mine.php
Directions: www.allaspen.com/history_museums/smuggler_mine.php
Contact: (970) 925-2049
Notes: Reservations required. Nearby the Compromise Mine.

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Connecticut

Old New-Gate Prison and Copper Mine
Website: www.ct.gov/cct/cwp/view.asp?a=2127&q=302258
Address: 115 Newgate Road, East Granby, CT 06026
Contact: (860) 653-3563
Notes: Possibly still closed for restoration.

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Georgia

Consolidated Gold Mine
Website: www.consolidatedgoldmine.com
Address: 185 Consolidated Gold Mine Rd. Dahlonega, GA 30533
Contact: (706) 864-8473
Notes: Open year round. Includes a massive tunnel system with original trackage.

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Idaho

Crystal Gold Mine
Website: www.goldmine-idaho.com
Directions: www.goldmine-idaho.com/history.html
Contact: (208) 783-4653
Notes: Open year round.

Sierra Silver Mine Tour
Website: www.silverminetour.org
Directions: Via Google
Address: 420 5th Street, Wallace, ID 83873
Contact: (208) 752-5151

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Illinois

Vinegar Hill Mine
Website: www.illinoisadventuretv.org/index.asp?page=st&site=1081
Directions: www.illinoisadventuretv.org/index.asp?page=st&site=1081
Address: 8885 North Three Pines Road, Galena, Illinois 61036
Contact: (309) 677-4747

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Kansas

Kansas Underground Salt Museum
Website: www.undergroundmuseum.org
Address: 3504 East Avenue G (at Airport Road), Hutchinson, KS 67501
Contact: 1 (866) 755-3450 (Toll Free) or (620) 662-1425

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Kentucky

Portal 31
Website: www.portal31.org
Directions: www.portal31.org/mine_location.htm

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Maine

Bumpus Mine
Website: www.rocksme.biz
Contact: 1 (800) 533-3607 or (207) 824-4224
Notes: Call well in advance for reservations.

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Michigan

Adventure Mine Tours
Website: www.adventureminetours.com
Directions: www.adventureminetours.com/directions.html
Address: 200 Adventure Road, Greenland, MI 49929
Contact: (906) 883-3371
Notes: Multiple tours provided based on desired level of "adventure". See www.minersrevenge.com for bike race tours.

Caledonia Mine
Website: www.exploringthenorth.com/redmetal/tours.html
Directions: www.exploringthenorth.com/redmetal/maps.html
Address: 202 Ontonagon Street, Ontonagon, MI 49953
Contact: (906) 884-6618
Notes: Known as a mineral collecting site. To schedule a mine tour, please call.

Delaware Copper Mine Tours
Website: www.delawarecopperminetours.com
Directions: Take U.S. 41 12 miles south of Copper Harbor.
Contact: (906) 289-4688
Notes: Self guided tours.

Iron Mountain Iron Mine
Website: www.ironmountainironmine.com
Contact: (906) 563-8077 Off-season call (906) 774-7914

Quincy Mine
Website: www.quincymine.com
Directions: www.quincymine.com/index.php?main_page=page&id=2&chapter=2
Address: 49750 US Highway 41, Hancock MI 49930
Contact: (906) 482-3101

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Minnesota

Soudan Mine
Website: www.dnr.state.mn.us/soudan/tours.html
Directions: www.dnr.state.mn.us/soudan/tour_map.html
Contact: (218) 753-2245

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Missouri

Bonne Terre Mine
Website: www.bonneterremine.com
Address: State Highway 47 & N Allen St, Bonne Terre, MO 63628
Contact: (314) 209-7200
Description: One of the most adventurous mine tours and one of the top 10 greatest adventures in the U.S. according to National Geographic. A walking tour, boat tour, and scuba diving options are available.

Montana

Orphan Girl Mine
Website: miningmuseum.org/underground-mine-tour-100-ft-level
Address: 155 Museum Way, Butte, MO 59703
Contact: (406) 723-7211

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Nevada

Chollar Mine
Website: www.chollarmine.com
Contact: (775) 560-0790
Notes: Mine is for sale and therefore future tours may not be available.

Diana Mine
Website: parks.nv.gov/bi.htm
Directions: parks.nv.gov/images/bimap.gif
Contact: (775) 964-2440
Notes: Located in Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park, mine tours are available from May 1 to September 30, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Reservations are required.

Eldorado Canyon Mine Tours
Website: www.eldoradocanyonminetours.com
Directions: www.eldoradocanyonminetours.com/information.htm
Contact: (702) 291-0026
Notes: Call for reservations.

Ponderosa Saloon and Mine Tour
Website: www.roadsideamerica.com/story/23801
Address: 106 South C Street, P.O. Box 314, Virginia City, NV 89440
Contact: (775) 847-7210
Notes: The historic Best & Belcher Mine is a real albeit brief underground mine tour accessed from within the saloon.

Tonopah Historic Mining Park
Website: www.tonopahhistoricminingpark.com
Address: 520 McCulloch Avenue, Tonopah, Nevada 89049-0965
Contact: (775) 482-9274
Description: See mining artifacts on site and in original mine buildings. Park includes a walk through the Burro Tunnel where at the end, you can peer down a 500 foot deep stope.

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New Hampshire

Ruggles Mine
Website: www.rugglesmine.com
Contact: 1 (800) 533-3607 (Toll Free) or (207) 824-4224
Notes: Call well in advance for reservations.

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New Jersey

Sterling Hill Mining Museum
Website: www.sterlinghillminingmuseum.org
Directions: www.sterlinghillminingmuseum.org/visitor/directions.php
Contact: (973) 209-7212
Description: World renowned for its numerous fluorescent minerals. Two hour tour explores historic first level, underground lamp room, shaft station, original 1830's workings and more.

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North Carolina

Emerald Village
Website: www.emeraldvillage.com/north-carolina-mining-museum.htm
Contact: (828) 765-6463
Notes: No reservations necessary.
Description: Take a self-guided tour of the Bon Ami Mine with booklet in hand. Includes fluorescent minerals and special black light tour is available.

Reed Mine
Website: www.reedmine.com
Directions: reedmine.tripod.com/index/visitthemine.htm
Address: 9621 Reed Mine Rd., Midland, NC 28107
Contact: (704) 721-4653
Notes: Open year round.
Description: Take a guided tour of the first documented gold discovery in the United States.

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Pennsylvania

Lackawanna Coal Mine
Website: www.lackawannacounty.org/attractions_coal.asp
Directions: www.lackawannacounty.org/attractions_coaldirections.asp
Contact: (800) 238-7245 (Toll Free) or (570) 963-6463

No. 9 Coal Mine & Museum
Website: no9mine.tripod.com/
Address: 9 Dock Street, Lansford, PA 18232
Contact: (570) 645-7074
Description: Ride a real narrow gauge train into the horizontal tunnel and experience a real anthracite mine.
Notes: Check Mine Forum for exclusive lights out tours.

Pioneer Tunnel
Website: www.pioneertunnel.com
Directions: www.pioneertunnel.com/directions.html
Address: 2001 Walnut Street, Ashland, PA 17921
Description: Includes a narrow gauge train into the horizontal entrance as well as an outdoor steam engine ride.
Notes: Check Mine Forum for exclusive lights out tours.

Seldom Seen Coal Mine
Website: www.seldomseenmine.com
Directions: www.seldomseenmine.com/map.htm
Contact: (814) 247-6305 (In Season) (814) 674-8939 (Off Season or Days Closed)

Tour-Ed Coal Mine
Website: www.tour-edmine.com
Directions: www.tour-edmine.com/site.htm
Address: 748 Bull Creek Road, Tarentum, PA 15084
Contact: (724) 224-4720

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South Dakota

Big Thunder Gold Mine
Website: www.bigthundermine.com
Directions: www.bigthundermine.com/index.php?page=directions
Contact: (605) 666-4847 or 1 (800) 314-3917
Notes: Off season tours require reservations. Future plans call for active mining below the 300 foot level.

Broken Boot Gold Mine
Website: www.brokenbootgoldmine.com/
Directions: www.brokenbootgoldmine.com/maps.html
Contact: (605) 578-1876

Homestake Mine
Website: www.homestakevisitorcenter.com
Directions: www.homestakevisitorcenter.com/directions.html
Address: 160 West Main Street, Lead, SD 57754
Contact: (605) 584-3110
Description: Explore the surface of one of the largest and most well known mining operations. The tour follows the mining process including hoisting, crushing and milling. View the waste water treatment plant and open pit operation.
Notes: No underground tour is available.

Thunderhead Underground Falls
Website: www.thunderheadfalls.com
Directions: www.thunderheadfalls.com/Directions.html
Address: 23199 Thunderhead Falls Rd, Rapid City, SD 57702
Contact: (605) 343-0081
Description: A less traditional mine tour allows for a walk into a 600 foot long adit tunnel to the foot of a beautiful underground waterfall.
Notes: Self-guided tour.

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Virginia

Morefield Gem Mine
Website: www.morefieldgemmine.com/
Directions: www.morefieldgemmine.com/location.html
Address: 13400 Butlers Road, Amelia, VA 23002
Notes: Although officially advertised as a mineral collecting site, a rugged underground tour is available. Reservations may be required.

Pocahontas Exhibition Coal Mine
Website: www.pocahontasva.org/museum.html
Contact: (276) 945-2134 or (276) 945-9522

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West Virginia

Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine
Website: www.beckleymine.com
Address: 513 Ewart Ave, Beckley, WV 25801
Contact: (304) 256-1747 or (304) 252-3730

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Wisconsin

Bevans Lead Mine Mining Museum and Rollo Jamison Museum
Website: mining.jamison.museum
Directions: mining.jamison.museum
Contact: (608) 348-3301
Notes: Part of the Mining Museum and Rollo Jamison Museum includes an underground tour of the 1845 Bevans Lead Mine.

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