Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine facts for kids
The Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine is a famous old mine located near Cripple Creek, Colorado, in the United States. It's a special kind of mine because its main shaft goes straight down into the ground. This shaft is about 1,000 feet (305 meters) deep, which is almost as tall as the Empire State Building in New York City!
Today, the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine is a popular place for visitors. About 40,000 people come each year to take tours and explore the mine. These tours have helped the towns of Victor and Cripple Creek by bringing in many tourists.
History of the Mine
The Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine began in 1891. It was named after Mollie Kathleen Gortner, who was the person who first claimed the land for mining.
The mine was busy digging for gold for many years. It only stopped working for a short time during World War II when the government asked mines to focus on other important materials. After that, it kept operating until 1961. Since then, it has been a fun place for tourists to visit and learn about gold mining.
Recent Event at the Mine
On Thursday, October 10, 2024, an event happened during a tour. The elevator that takes people down into the mine had a problem. Twelve people, including tourists and a mine worker, became stuck underground.
Emergency teams worked quickly to help everyone. Eleven other people who were also on the tour were rescued safely. Authorities worked to fix the elevator and also had a fire department crew ready to help. All twelve people who were stuck were safely brought out of the mine later that evening using the elevator.
In January 2025, officials shared what caused the incident. They said it was due to a mistake made by the elevator operator, not because the equipment was broken. Because of this, the mine was able to open again for visitors in the 2025 tourist season.
See also
External links
- Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine Tour
