Gold in Colorado!
In January 1859, George Jackson found placer gold at the confluence of Clear Creek and Chicago Creek in present-day Idaho Springs — the first significant strike in what became the Colorado Gold Rush.
Within two years Idaho Springs was a boom town and the surrounding hills were teeming with men chasing the veins underground. As mines got deeper, ground water began filling the shafts, threatening the viability of the mines of Central City - then known as "the richest square mile on earth".
Newhouse Tunnel
The ambitious solution was an adit tunnel dug 4.16 miles into the mountain, tapping mine after mine along the way, draining nearly 300 miles of mine workings.
It took the better part of two decades to complete one of the longest tunnels of its kind in the world at the time. When finished, it served more than a hundred mines, keeping them viable for decades to come. In addition to draining the mines of ground water, the tunnel served many uses, allowing Ore, Equipment, Workers, Electricity, Compressed Air, Ventilation to reach deep into the heart of the Central City mines.
The Argo Mill
Completed in 1913, The Argo mill was built at the tunnel mouth to process the lower grade ore on-site before being loaded onto the Colorado and Central Railroad bound for the Denver Mint. The mill was one of the most technologically advanced operations of the time, harnessing Tesla and Westinghouse's alternating current long before Denver became electrified.
In 1943, a large group of mine workings collapsed into the argo tunnel, causing a catastrophic flood that closed milling operations for good. In 1977, the mill was purchased by James Maxwell who preserved it as a historic tour operation until its purchase in 2016 by the current owners. The Argo Mill and Tunnel is on the national registry of historic landmarks.
Mill & Tunnel Tours One hour guided tours
Follow the gold ore on its journey from the Argo Tunnel through the Mill. Along the way you'll learn about the people, technology, and the business that made this operation one of the most innovative and successful of its time. The Argo Mill is one of the largest and best-preserved Historic Gold Mills in the world, with much of its original equipment still in place.
From $32.95 · ages 5 and under free
Pan for Gold Real water, real pans, real gold
Try your hand at a true Colorado mining tradition. Our team will show you how to pan for gold and search for real gold flakes to take home as a keepsake. Each panning experience includes real gold, making it perfect for families, kids, and anyone looking to connect with Idaho Springs’ gold rush history.
