National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum

What would it be like to work in a mine, blasting rock in narrow passageways deep underground? Find out at the National Mining Hall of Fame & Museum, where you can tour replicas of mines and crystal caves, check out the equipment miners wear and use, and see photos of the people who have worked in American mines over the decades. Then explore what mining produces, from gems and precious metals to the minerals you use in everyday life.

Located in the famous 1880s silver-mining boomtown of Leadville, at the top of Colorado's Rocky Mountains, the museum is housed in the historic high school building. The premier showcase of American mining, the museum has been called "The Smithsonian of the Rockies." The museum is a monument to the men and women who pioneered the discovery, development, and processing of our nation's natural resources. The National Mining Hall of Fame & Museum is the only federally chartered, non-profit mining museum.

Surface tours of the offsite historic Matchless Mine and Baby Doe's Cabin are available from Memorial Day weekend through September.