It's no secret that Colorado has close ties to the Wild West and the Gold Rush era, with lingering evidence of those times still very present today.
Take a dive into Colorado's rich mining history with these mine tours:
1. Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine Tour
Located in Cripple Creek, this mine is named after the first woman to strike gold in Colorado and has America's only vertical mineshaft. On the tour, visitors will descend 100 stories into the earth and view the gold veins that still course through the walls in their natural state. At the end of the tour, visitors are given their own 'gold nugget.' The Molly Kathleen Gold Mine opens May 4 and runs daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. until the fall.
2. Hidee Gold Mine
The Hidee Gold Mine offers tours led by guides knowledgeable in local mining and geology. Visitors will also participate in gold panning, mining directly from the vein with a hammer and chisel, and get to keep what they find.
3. Country Boy Mine Tour
This mine tour consists of a one-hour, guide-led experience where visitors will explore historical mining exhibits and pan for gold. Located in Breckenridge, visitors will venture over 1,000 feet into the mountain and tour the 100-plus-year-old mineshaft.
4. Lebanon Silver Mine Tour
This is an optional tour for passengers of the Georgetown Loop Railroad that runs between Georgetown and Silver Plume. The Lebanon Silver Mine is located at the halfway point on the railroad. Visitors will travel 500 feet below in a tunnel that was bored in the 1870s.
5. Argo Mill and Tunnel
Situated in the historic Idaho Springs, the Argo Mill and Tunnel is on the National Register of Historic Places. Tours are professionally guided and take about one hour and 15 minutes. A gold panning lesson and experience is also included with every Argo Mill and Tunnel tour.
6. Capital Prize Gold Mine Tour
This mine tour , located in Georgetown, will transport you right back to the days of Colorado's gold rush. Visitors will see the fully operational gold mine and learn about the area's history on hour-long tours.
7. Bachelor Syracuse Mine Tour
Visitors will travel 1,500 feet into Gold Mountain and learn about Ouray's history on this mine tour . Visitors will also get the opportunity to pan for gold from a real stream coming out of Gold Mountain at this site.
8. Last Chance Mine
Visitors will get a narrated tour of this silver mine's history, as well as learn about its geology. They'll also see the Amethyst Vein, which contains amethyst, sowbelly agate, and silver. Tours last about 40 minutes, beginning at 10:30 a.m. and ending at 4 p.m. The mine reopens on Memorial Day weekend.
9. Phoenix Gold Mine
Also located in Idaho Springs, this gold mine offers underground gold mine tours, and a "focus on the geology, history, mining techniques, and milling equipment." Visitors will also see two gold veins.
10. One Hundred Gold Mine Tour
This guided mine tour will take you deep into the 13,000-foot-tall Galena Mountain, where you'll see the vein and real mining equipment. The mine is located near Silverton, and visitors will also get to pan for real silver, copper, and gold.
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