The Argo Mill & Tunnel Tour
Explore one of the largest preserved historic gold mills in the world
Experience the wonder of ingenuity, technology, and entrepreneurial spirit at the Argo Mill and Tunnel — a premier Colorado Gold Country attraction. Rising more than 110 feet, the Argo Mill is a National Historic Landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and in its heyday it processed over $100 million in gold ore (roughly $2.6 trillion in 2020 dollars).
Your guided tour includes:
• A guided historical orientation about the site and the region
• Access to the interior of the historic Argo Tunnel portal
• Exploration of original turn-of-the-century equipment and historic artifacts
• Gold or gem panning
• The on-site mercantile with retail goods and publications
A Bit of History
During the Colorado Gold Rush, the Clear Creek and Gilpin County mining districts were known as The Richest Square Mile on Earth, and the Argo played an integral part in that story. Construction of the Argo Tunnel (then called the Newhouse Tunnel) began in 1893 and took 10 years to reach Central City, 4.2 miles away. Dozens of mines and hundreds of miles of workings connected to and benefited from the tunnel, which drained the mines of water and provided ventilation, compressed air, haulage, transportation, and ultimately milling services. The Argo Mill was the master stroke — a state-of-the-art facility at the mouth of the mighty tunnel.
On January 19th, 1943, a catastrophic flood in the tunnel caused the Argo Mill and Tunnel to cease operations permanently. Much of the original equipment remains in place today, including mining and milling artifacts, original payroll documents and receipts, and antique photographs. In 2016, a dedicated group of local preservationists and visionaries purchased the Argo and continue to make impactful improvements to the site and the visitor experience.
Location: 2350 Riverside Dr., Idaho Springs, CO 80452 · (303) 567-2421
• A guided historical orientation about the site and the region
• Access to the interior of the historic Argo Tunnel portal
• Exploration of original turn-of-the-century equipment and historic artifacts
• Gold or gem panning
• The on-site mercantile with retail goods and publications
A Bit of History
During the Colorado Gold Rush, the Clear Creek and Gilpin County mining districts were known as The Richest Square Mile on Earth, and the Argo played an integral part in that story. Construction of the Argo Tunnel (then called the Newhouse Tunnel) began in 1893 and took 10 years to reach Central City, 4.2 miles away. Dozens of mines and hundreds of miles of workings connected to and benefited from the tunnel, which drained the mines of water and provided ventilation, compressed air, haulage, transportation, and ultimately milling services. The Argo Mill was the master stroke — a state-of-the-art facility at the mouth of the mighty tunnel.
On January 19th, 1943, a catastrophic flood in the tunnel caused the Argo Mill and Tunnel to cease operations permanently. Much of the original equipment remains in place today, including mining and milling artifacts, original payroll documents and receipts, and antique photographs. In 2016, a dedicated group of local preservationists and visionaries purchased the Argo and continue to make impactful improvements to the site and the visitor experience.
Location: 2350 Riverside Dr., Idaho Springs, CO 80452 · (303) 567-2421
