Argo Gold Mine and Mill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Argo Mill
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 Location in Colorado
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2517 Riverside Dr., Idaho Springs, Colorado |
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| Built | 1912 |
| NRHP reference No. | 78000836 |
| Added to NRHP | January 31, 1978 |
The Argo Gold Mine and Mill is a famous old gold mining site in Idaho Springs, Colorado. It has a gold processing mill right at the entrance of the Argo Tunnel. Today, it is a popular place for visitors to learn about Colorado's gold rush history.
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The Argo Gold Mine and Mill: A Golden History
The Argo Tunnel was a huge project built between 1893 and 1910. Its main job was to drain water from many gold mines nearby. It also made it easier to bring out the valuable gold ore. This tunnel connected mines in places like Virginia Canyon and Central City.
A World-Famous Gold Operation
Because so much ore came out of the tunnel, a large mill was built to process it. This mill helped separate the gold from other rocks. At the time, the Argo Tunnel and Mill were among the biggest in the world. They helped recover a massive amount of gold. This gold was worth billions of dollars in today's money! They also sent other valuable ores to special factories in Denver.
From Gold Rush to Tourist Spot
The Argo property closed in January 1943. This happened after a big water accident in the tunnel. It never reopened for mining because of World War II. During the war, the government stopped gold mining.
In 1976, a group of investors bought the property. They wanted to save a piece of Colorado's gold rush history. They fixed it up and opened it as a tourist attraction. The Argo Mill was added to the National Register of Historic Places in January 1978. It still offers tours today.
Explore the Argo Mill Today!
The Argo Mill is open all year for tours, weather permitting. It's a great place to learn about how gold was found and processed.
What You Can See and Do
When you visit, you'll watch a short movie about the mine's history. You'll also see how mining equipment worked. Guides will take you into the reopened tunnel entrance. You can also explore the mill building. Inside, you'll see old machines that separated gold. These include gravity separators and froth flotation cells.
There's an indoor museum with many old mining tools. Outside, you can see even bigger historical equipment. A fun part of the tour is the gold panning experience. You can even try to find your own gold! The outdoor museum and gold panning can also be enjoyed separately.
See also
