Grab your pick and a pan and head to Big Thunder Gold Mine for some old-fashioned fun underground. Take a tour of the gold mine, which operated from 1882 to 1914, and learn about the history of the mine from informed guides. Discover from guides how the miners extracted gold from the mined ore, and, as you walk through dark and narrow shafts, learn how the miners created the shafts with only candlelight to guide them. At the museum you'll discover a large collection of mining equipment, including a stamp mill and blacksmithing equipment. Finally, take a turn at panning for gold or gems in the stream on the property. All areas of the tour and site are wheelchair accessible. Plan to see Big Thunder Gold Mine and other attractions that appeal to you using our Keystone journey maker.
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Big Thunder Gold Mine reviews
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We participated in the mine tour as well as gold panning. Although smaller than we expected, there was some great history. Lots of fun! more »
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My Husband and 14 year old son had a blast on their 1/2 day gold claim panning experience. They said the guides were very knowledgeable and fun! I thought 4 hours would have been too long, but they... more »
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Shawna, the tour guide, was very enthusiastic and had a great sense of humor. You can tell she loves teaching about history. The gold mine tour was chilly but very interesting to see. After the tour we planned for gold and got to keep everything we found. We were the lucky ones and got an entire file full. Fun for all ages!
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For me, it's not so much about the gold. I loved the tour where they talked about the mine. It's very close to Mount Rushmore, you can even see it from there! If you like planning for gold, they teach you how and lot you can for gold. If you like anything stated above, definitely come here!
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