National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum

The National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum is located in Leadville, Colorado and explores the past, present, and future of mining.

About

From a giant dinosaur footprint to meteorites to realistic walk-through mine replicas, you’ll find plenty of fun things to see. National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum visitors often say they’re surprised at how much they learn.

Highlights

Sparkling crystals, in long sword-like formations and in geodes as big as your head.

A model railroad showing life in a historic Colorado mining town. Can you find the monkeys someone added just for fun?

The minerals in your life: in your toothpaste, soaps, and china, in your milk, greens, and Oreos!

Fascinating stories of real-life miners in the Hall of Fame.

A tin can in its early days: the raw forms of this familiar mineral.

A video on how to catch asteroids in space and mine them. Yes, it’s a thing!

Old-time photos and stories of the Tabors’ legendary Matchless Mine, which you can visit in person from Memorial Day to early fall.

The story of the Climax mine, the largest resource of molybdenum in the world, just 13 miles from the museum.

A shiny red 1923 car made by Wills Sainte Claire, which used Climax molybdenum steel in its gears, shafts, springs, and wheels.

Hand-carved dioramas depicting an 1800s hunt for gold—and a joyous find—at Colorado’s ClearCreek.

Memorable walk-through mines with dim lighting, the sound of drilling, mazes of ore cart tracks, and mannequins of miners and mules doing their jobs underground.

Fluorescent rocks glowing bright orange and neon green in the dark.

Fun facts about gold. Did you know that one ounce can be stretched into a wire five miles long?

HOW TO REACH

From Denver, take I-70 to exit 195, then take State Route 91 to Leadville. From Vail and western Colorado, take I-70 to exit 171, then take U.S. Route 24 south to Leadville. From Colorado Springs, take U.S. Route 24 west to Johnson Village, then north to Leadville. From southern Colorado, take U.S. Route 285 north to Johnson Village, then take U.S. Route 24 north to Leadville.

ADMISSION

General Admission: $14
Student Admission: $12
Children Under 6: Free

General Admission discounted $2 for seniors (65 & older), active/retired/reserve military, members of AAA.

Free admission for Lake County students, members of AAM and NARM, and Scouts who are working on or have earned the Mining in Society Merit Badge.
(Visitors must show proof to receive discounted or free admission.)

Group Admission (per person):
Groups must call for reservations at least one week in advance to ensure availability and make any special arrangements!
Group Guided Tour (by reservation; 10+ people): $20
Group Self-Guided Tour (by reservation; 10+ people): $10
College Student Group (outside of CMC-Leadville Campus): $10
School Group (K-12 outside of Lake County): $5