National Mining Hall of Fame facts for kids
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National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum Entrance
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| Established | 1977 |
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| Location | 120 West 9th Street, Leadville, Colorado |
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The National Mining Hall of Fame is a special museum in Leadville, Colorado, USA. It celebrates the hard work of miners and others who deal with natural resources. The museum also helps people learn more about the mining industry.
This museum is unique because it's the only national mining museum with a special permission from the US Congress. This permission, called a Congressional charter, was approved by President Ronald Reagan in 1988. It means the museum is officially recognized by the government.
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How the Museum Started
The idea for the museum began in 1987. It was first planned for Golden, Colorado. But the town of Leadville was having a tough time then. Many mines in Leadville had closed in the 1980s. Because of this, some people who promised to donate money changed their minds.
Doug Watrous, who was in charge of the project, asked Richard Moolick to talk with Leadville's city leaders. They offered the museum a great deal: to rent a building for only 50 cents a year for 110 years!
The museum still needed money to get started. A former state senator named Joe Shoemaker suggested they find 100 people to donate $1,000 each. It took a year, but they raised all the money. In 1988, the museum moved into its new home. This building used to be the Leadville Junior High School and before that, the Leadville High School.
What You Can See at the Museum
The museum covers a huge area, about 25,000 square feet. It has many cool things to explore. You can see a detailed model railroad and even walk through a copy of an underground mine.
There's also a "Gold Rush" room with many real pieces of native gold. You can find a large collection of different minerals and a gallery showing mining art. Don't forget the gift shop for souvenirs!
Honoring Mining Heroes
The National Mining Hall of Fame is a special place that honors men and women who did amazing things in mining. These people are chosen by the museum's board of governors. They must have made important contributions to American mining.
The Hall of Fame includes many different kinds of people. These are prospectors, miners, engineers, teachers, and even geologists. Some famous people honored include Herbert Hoover, who later became a US President, and Horace Tabor, a well-known mining leader.
Looking at Mining History from All Sides
Some people have pointed out that the Hall of Fame mostly honored mining leaders and owners at first. They felt it didn't always show enough of the everyday miners, explorers, or labor leaders. It was also noted that the museum didn't initially focus much on the dangers miners faced or the lives lost in mining.
However, the museum has worked to address these points. For example, a new exhibit called "Buried Sunlight: Coal Mining in America" opened in 2017. This exhibit explores the social, safety, and environmental issues related to coal mining. It helps visitors understand more about the challenges and history of this important industry.
