National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum, Leadville, Colorado (Where Gumbo was #168)

Gumbo was visiting the National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum, situated in the thin air of Leadville, Colorado.  Congratulations to GarryRF, PortMoresby, JonathanL and Traveling Canuck, all of whom correctly solved the puzzle!

03 Leadville Museum of Mining 09-2014
Leadville is the highest altitude town to be occupied year round in the United States, situated at 3094 m (10,592 ft) above sea level.  The area was a booming silver mining town in the late 19th century and while the mining era is all but over, relics of it are still plentiful around Leadville.

06 Leadville Museum of Mining 09-2014

The National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum (NMHFM) offers an interesting look at the geology and mining of the region, and its Hall of Fame portion recognizes the men and women who were important mining pioneers.  A relatively new institution, the nonprofit NMHFM was founded in 1977 and the building it occupies renovated in 1987.  Initially it was to be on the grounds of the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, but Leadville was ultimately chosen.  The museum is housed in the old Leadville High School, which was constructed in 1899.

15 Leadville Museum of Mining 09-2014. Copper Silver half-breed20 Leadville Museum of Mining 09-201421 Leadville Museum of Mining 09-2014

There are three levels of exhibits in the NMHFM, occupying 71,000 sq ft (6,600 sq m).  The museum exhibits do a great job explaining the story of mining here and elsewhere.  There are wonderful gem and mineral displays from mines around the world.   One of the exhibits features a display of fluorescent rocks, our very first clue.  There is an elaborate model railroad, a walk through of a simulated underground mine, a Gold Rush room,  and a mining art gallery.

07 Leadville Museum of Mining 09-2014

Of special interest to me was the 1923 Wills Saint Clair automobile.  These are uncommon cars that made an important technological advancement in that they were the first car to incorporate molybdenum (a mineral mined near Leadville to this day) to provide durability to the metal (which it does). Only 80 of the 10,000 Wills Saint Clair cars produced still survive.

24 Leadville Museum of Mining 09-2014 1923 Willi St. Clair25 Leadville Museum of Mining 09-2014. Willis St Clair27 Leadville Museum of Mining 09-2014

A terrace on the fourth floor provides a nice viewpoint for the town and surrounding Rocky Mountains.  The Hall of Fame is on the fifth floor and is a federally chartered memorial for men and women who have achieved lasting greatness in the mining industry, with inductees selected by the museum’s board of governors.  Consideration is given to “prospectors, miners, mining leaders, engineers, teachers, financiers, inventors, journalists, and geologists”.

49 Leadville Museum of Mining 09-2014 (3)49 Leadville Museum of Mining 09-2014 (6)
          (Mining Hall of Fame)

The museum is worthy of at least a two hour visit and if you enjoy minerals and geology, as I do, then you can fill a half day studying all the exhibits.  An enjoyable diversion, especially on a rainy summer day.

Here are some of the exhibits we enjoyed during our visit:

A quartz wall from Telluride…10 Leadville Museum of Mining 09-2014 Idarado Quartz wall from Telluride

A diamond mining drill….
14 Leadville Museum of Mining 09-2014. Diamond drill
Model of the Robert E Lee Mine in Leadville, circa 1879….
22 Leadville Museum of Mining 09-2014. Robert E Lee Mine, Leadville 1879

Assorted mining memorabilia and gear….
29 Museum of Mining 09-201430 Leadville Museum of Mining 09-201431 Leadville Museum of Mining 09-201434 Leadville Museum of Mining 09-201436 Leadville Museum of Mining 09-2014

Some of the mining-related art around the museum….
38 Leadville Museum of Mining 09-2014. Mining Blacksmith40 Leadville Museum of Mining 09-201442 Leadville Museum of Mining 09-201443 Leadville Museum of Mining 09-201445 Leadville Museum of Mining 09-201447 Leadville Museum of Mining 09-2014

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8 years ago

Looks like a real taste of history.

Fascinating assortment of exhibits and well worth a visit.

 

8 years ago

Another fantastic reveal! Great info and photos!

8 years ago

A great looking place. Plenty of interesting and unique items. Thanks for another great visit.

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