Mine Tours and Education Centers

United States

 

Arizona

 

Queen Mine Underground and Surface Tours

www.queenminetour.com

Explore one of the oldest copper mines in Arizona. Former miners show how turn-of-the-century mines were operated.

Arizona Mining and Mineral Museum

www.mines.az.gov/General/museum.html

Extensive collection of mineral specimens. Historic headframe and mine train.

Asarco Mineral Discovery Center

www.mineraldiscovery.com

Open-pit mine & mill tours available – exhibits on geology, mining & uses of minerals; historic & present-day mining equipment, view videos, gift shop.

Colorado

 

Western Museum of Mining & Industry

www.wmmi.org

Four museum buildings and outdoor displays. Actual operation of steam engines, drills, pumps and other various mining equipment.

National Mining Hall of Fame & Museum

www.mininghalloffame.org

Converted school offers 12 rooms of displays, models, mine replicas, historic photographs and other mining treasures. Spectacular mineral collection.

Connecticut

 

Connecticut Museum of Mining & Mineral Science

www.ctamachinery.com

Complex consists of seven buildings + operating narrow gauge railroad. Exhibits include mineral displays, uses of minerals, mine lighting, blasting, safety.

District of Columbia

 

Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History

www.mnh.si.edu

Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems and Minerals
From the Hope Diamond to the walk-through mine (funded by members of National Mining Assn.) experience the finest gem and mineral collection and interactive, educational exhibits.

Idaho

 

Sierra Silver Mine Underground Tour

www.silverminetour.com

Trolley takes you to the minesite. An experienced miner guides you as you witness exhibits, methods & techniques for hard-rock silver mining.

Illinois

 

Museum of Science and Industry

www.msichicago.org

Visit the famous coal mine, which recently underwent a facelift.

Kentucky

 

Kentucky Coal Mining Museum

www.kycoalmuseum.org

Guided or self-guided tours available; you’ll get a feel for what it was like to live, work and play at these unique camps in Benham and Lynch.

Michigan

 

A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum - Michigan Tech.

www.museum.mtu.edu

Famous world-class collection of Lake Superior copper and iron district minerals. 60,000 specimens from around the world.

Minnesota

 

Iron World Discovery Center

www.ironworld.com

Dramatic glass and steel museum perched on open pit iron mine. Relates iron mining history through lifelike displays and audio, including living history tapes.

Hibbing Taconite Mine Tours

www.ironworld.com

You’ll visit the mine, the concentrator & the agglomerator. Slacks & comfortable shoes are recommended. Hard hats, safety glasses and earplugs will be furnished.

Missouri

 

Tri-State Mineral Museum

www.joplinmuseum.org

Mineral specimens and memorabilia focusing on mining & minerals in Missouri, Kansas & Oklahoma.

Nevada

 

Barrick Goldstrike Mines

Phone: 775-778-1220

Guests will be picked up at the Northeastern Nevada Museum & transported to the property. Visitors will see the prolific Betze-Post open pit, the analytical lab and the new $330 million roaster and tour the visitor’s center.

McCaw School of Mines

www.mccawschoolofmines.org

Intended for school groups. 4,500 sq. ft. structure portrays the history & importance of mining in Nevada. Includes a simulated tunnel connecting 4 interior alcoves that depict: historial mining, mining in Nevada, geology & minerals and modern day mining

Tonopah Historic Mining Park

www.tonopahhistoricminingpark.com

80 acres of century-old mining works; many of the buildings house original equipment.

New Jersey

 

Sterling Hill Mine & Mining Museum

www.sterlinghill.org

Extensive mining memorabilia in museum, including fluorescent minerals for which the mine is famous.

New Mexico

 

Grants, New Mexico Mining Museum

www.grants.org

“The only underground uranium mining museum in the world.” Underground conditions recreated and domed in white stone and glass museum. Gems & minerals displayed from around the world.

Pennsylvania

 

Pennsylvania State Univ. Earth & Mineral Sciences Museum & Art Gallery

www.ems.psu.edu/museum

Fine display of minerals, fossils & artifacts. “Most extensive collection” of paintings and sculpture depicting mining and related industries.

Utah

 

Kennecott’s Bingham Canyon Mine Visitors Center

www.kennecott.com

Visitors Center stands inside the mine itself and features exhibits and displays of artifacts & memorabilia, combined with interactive exhibits.

West Virginia

 

Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine

www.beckleymine.com

Includes underground tour and surface buildings. Shows low-seam coal mine from its earliest manual stages to modern mechanized operation.

Wisconsin

 

The Mining Museum

www.mining.jamison.museum

Traces the development of lead and zinc mining in the Upper Mississippi Valley through models, dioramas, artifacts & photographs.