Before Colorado even became a state, folks were flocking to it in search of striking it rich via the gold rush. As luck would have it, the Centennial State would turn out to be incredibly lucrative, which drew more and more people in and helped the area grow and expand into a thriving state. While we learn about Colorado’s mining history in school, it can still be hard to picture, which is why we are thankful for places like the Argo Mill and its hands-on tours:
Located in Idaho Springs, the Argo Mill and Tunnel is one of Colorado's biggest and best mining tours and is billed for being one of the premier Heritage Landmarks in the American West.
Constructed in 1893, the Argo Gold Mine was in operation until 1943 and - during its heyday - turned out $100 million in gold and another $200 million in other valuable ore.
While the mine is no longer active, the area is open for informative, hands-on tours, including a walk through the former structures and equipment, an orientation of the site, and an inside look at the mining process that you will not find anywhere else.