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The Argo Mill and Tunnel is the  #1 Attraction in Idaho Springs

Experience Our Shared Heritage

Experience the wonder of ingenuity, technology, and entrepreneurial spirit that is the Argo Mill & Tunnel.

Situated in Historic Idaho Springs in the heart of Colorado Gold Country sits the Mighty Argo Mill and Tunnel, one of the most striking and prominent Heritage Landmarks in the American West. The Argo is a central character in the story of the Colorado gold-rush, and remains one of the largest, most well-preserved historic gold mills in the world.

Tripadvisor® recommends the Argo Mill and Tunnel Tour as the #1 thing to do in Idaho Springs for its history, authenticity, and hands-on experience.

Discover a Treasure of the American West

The monumental Argo Mill stands over 110’ tall and processed over $100 million of gold ore – 2.6 trillion in 2020 dollars. On your tour of the mill and tunnel, you will be immersed in the spirit that defined the Victorian Industrial Revolution.

A National Historic Landmark

The Argo Mill and Tunnel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and continues to be one of the region’s most recognizable landmarks.

Catch Gold Fever

This is a real affliction! Known remedies include panning for gold, learning about milling techniques, and being inspired by the remarkable guile of the prospectors that came before.

Your visit to the Argo Mill and Tunnel includes…

A brief orientation from your guide on the dramatic history of the site and region.

A glimpse inside the portal of the Argo Tunnel

A journey through a site and structure chock full of incredible objects and the stories behind them

Coming face to face with massive, original equipment from the turn of the century

Panning for Gold or Gems – release your inner prospector

A Mercantile brimming with sundries, mementos and an extensive retail library of guides and publications

So much more than another mine tour – you will experience a comprehensive look at how the gold mining industry drove the wealth and prosperity of the United States

#1 Visitor Attraction

The “mighty argo” attracts guests from every state and from across the solar system..

BOOK A TOUR ONLINE TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT!

We tend to sell out tours in the busy months. To guarantee your spot on the tour, book a tour online before your visit. Click the BOOK NOW button in the upper right-hand corner of the website to view the tour schedule. BOOK NOW!

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Argo Gold Mine & Mill – Idaho Springs

Argo Gold Mine & Mill is a national historic site located about 45 minutes from Denver. Year-round tours are led by experienced guides and cover the tunnel, the mine, and the mill. There is a live demonstration of crushing, milling, and rock drilling.

It began in 1893 with the construction of the Argo Tunnel. After 17 years it reached Central City, about 4.5 miles away. The tunnel provided a way of transporting the gold from many mines along the way.

Gold Mine, Mill, and Tunnel Tours

Argo’s Mill was constructed to process the gold-bearing ore being transported from the mines. When it was completed, the Argo Mill was the world’s largest mill of its kind. It processed over 100 million dollars of gold ore at prices of $18 to $35 per ounce.

Tours last about an hour, so wear comfortable shoes and bring a light jacket. Afterward, the tour everyone on the tour gets to try their hand at gold panning. Keep any gems you find. You can also buy miners’ bags of dirt, with guaranteed placer gold and gemstones.

Address: 2350 Riverside Dr, Idaho Springs , CO 80452

Phone: 303-567-2421

Season: Year-round, weather permitting

Hours: Daily 9 am – 6 pm, the last tour at 4:30 pm

Website: argomilltour.com

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UponArriving

Argo Mill And Tunnel Tour Review: A Fascinating Look at the History of Gold Mining in Colorado

One of the biggest attractions in Idaho Springs, Colorado, is the Argo Mill tour.

As you step inside this historic landmark you’ll be transported back in time to the early 1900s, immersing yourself in the well-preserved corridors that once buzzed with activity.

It’s an incredible experience to witness firsthand the machinery and infrastructure that played a crucial role in the mining industry of the era.

As you explore the corridors, you’ll learn fascinating details about the history of the mill and the various mining processes that were used to extract precious minerals from the surrounding earth.

It’s a unique opportunity to gain insight into the ingenuity and hard work that shaped the development of the region during that time period and below, I’ll tell you everything you need to know before your visit.

Table of Contents

What is the Argo Mill?

The Argo Mill is a historic gold mill located in Idaho Springs, Colorado, that played a major role in the Colorado Gold Rush for several decades. Today, visitors can take a tour of the mill, learn about its history, and even partake in some gold panning (and yes, you can keep what you find)!

It was built in 1891 and was one of the largest and most technologically advanced mills in the world at the time, processing ore from several mines in the area and becoming a major economic driver for the region.

Equally impressive was the Argo Tunnel, a remarkable engineering marvel that served a dual purpose. Not only did it effectively address the crucial mine drainage needs, but it also provided a more efficient means of transporting the valuable ore.

The Colorado and Southern Narrow Gauge Railroad ran directly in front of the Argo Mill and provided easy transport to the smelters and the United States Mint , which was located in Denver due to its proximity to these riches.

The Argo Mill was closed in 1943 following a fatal underground accident, which you will learn plenty about. However, it was restored in the 1970s and is now a popular tourist destination and a National Historic Landmark.

How to book a tour to The Argo Mill

If you want to visit the Argo Mill, I’d highly recommend that you book online . Some of the tours do sell out in advance and we had a 100% full tour when we visited, so you don’t want to wait around too long.

Here are the tour prices you can expect:

• Adults:  $25
• Children (ages 5–16):  $20
• Children age 1-4:  $4
• Infants:  Free

It is possible to just book a panning session but I’d highly recommend that you go for the full tour.

How to get to the Argo Mill

The Argo Mill is located in Idaho Springs, Colorado, right along I-70 about 40 minutes west of Denver.

If you pull up the address via Google Maps directions might try to take you to the rear of the mill but you can easily find the parking lot if you turn onto Riverside Drive and simply head towards the main parking lot.

You’ll see a building for Argo Mill tours and you can head inside to check-in at the cashier.

Our experience at The Argo Mill

The experience kicks off with an informative video introduction that delves into the significance of the Argo Mill and the Argo Tunnel.

You’ll gain a deep understanding of the pivotal role these structures played in the mining industry and their extensive network of tributaries. The video provides a captivating overview of the historical context, showcasing the immense scale of operations and the vital contributions made by the mill and tunnel in processing and transporting precious minerals

After the movie, it will be time to head outside and take the shuttle bus up to the top of the mill.

It’s a steep drop off from the side of the dirt road and there are no rails so if you are afraid of heights it’s best to just not look that way. Luckily, it’s a short journey.

As you make your way across the top of the mill, you’ll have some great views of Idaho Springs and the lower portions of the structure. You really get a sense of how big the facility was.

Once we made it to the top, the first destination to explore was the Argo Tunnel. But before heading inside you need to grab a hardhat.

Then it’s time to venture inside the tunnel and explore its intriguing corridors, but don’t worry, you won’t be trekking for miles in a sketchy cave!

Your journey will take you approximately 60 yards into the Argo Tunnel, a remarkable feat of engineering that stretches a staggering 4.16 miles (6.69 km) in total.

As you delve into the well-lit tunnel, you’ll discover the story of the catastrophic flood that wreaked havoc within its depths. It’s both fascinating and horrifying to think about the power of mother nature that burst through this tunnel, now contained behind the mighty bulkhead structure.

You’ll then get a chance to explore the claims office where miners would come to register their mining claims and deal with legal matters pertaining to their operations.

The claims office served as a hub of activity, where miners would present their documentation, discuss property boundaries, and resolve disputes. It was here where contracts were negotiated, fees were paid, and the legal framework of mining operations was upheld.

Be sure to pop in for a couple of minutes to check out some of the historical photographs and articles.

Then it’s time to head inside the big red Argo Mill, which is the highlight of the tour in my opinion.

Taking in the scents of aged wood, metal, and earth, you’ll be transported back in time to the bustling world of gold milling. The mill is a remarkable sight to behold, with its intricate machinery and towering structures — you just imagine all the bustling activity that took place.

Inside, you’ll have the opportunity to explore all of the different levels of the mill. From the crushing and grinding rooms to the cyanide processing areas, lots of the original equipment is still intact.

Along the way, knowledgeable guides will share fascinating details about the various steps involved in the milling process, including how the ore was crushed, pulverized, and treated with chemicals to extract the precious gold.

Standing in the chambers once used for the stamp mill you can imagine the sounds of these contraptions rhythmically pounding on the rocks, generating a thunderous noise as pieces of ore were pulverized into tiny rocks.

It’s also quite powerful to learn about the challenges and obstacles that workers faced while working in the mills.

The conditions were often harsh, with loud machinery causing hearing loss over time, and the constant exposure to dust and hazardous chemicals leading to respiratory diseases. The toll on their health was significant, and many workers faced shortened life expectancies due to the demanding nature of their jobs.

Understanding the sacrifices and risks they endured adds a somber perspective to the history of the mills and reminds us of the human cost behind the quest for gold during the Colorado gold rush.

Once you’ve had the opportunity to explore several levels, you will eventually descend to the museum level. Here, a wide array of artifacts awaits, transporting you back to the mining era.

From old paystubs to captivating historic photographs, you can immerse yourself in the rich heritage of those days.

Additionally, you can even experience the sensation of handling some of the tools once wielded by the miners themselves.

When you exit the museum, you’ll be back on the main ground level where even more old mining artifacts are on display, including a stamp mill that once crushed rocks to extract gold and other precious minerals.

Gold panning

Each tour ticket price includes gold panning lessons, giving you the opportunity to test your luck with an ore sample containing genuine “placer gold.”

Placer gold, formed through the erosion and deposition of gold by natural forces like water or wind, is commonly found in stream beds and riverbanks and that’s what you’ll be looking for.

The experienced guides will teach you the proper techniques of swirling the pan, allowing the heavier gold particles to settle at the bottom.

Tip: Record the steps because there are a lot and you’ll be able to reference them later, even if it’s another time!

As you gently shake the pan, the lighter sediment washes away, revealing the glimmering specks of gold. It’s an exciting and hands-on experience that connects you to the exhilaration and anticipation that prospectors felt during the Colorado gold rush.

Whether you strike it rich or not, the thrill of uncovering genuine gold flakes is an unforgettable moment that brings the history of the gold rush to life.

On average, you’ll find about three little flakes of gold although some will find more than that (I had four).

I’m not going to lie, I suspect these pans are pre-loaded with gold flakes. But regardless, it was still really cool to find some little shining pieces of gold that I could take home.

Tip: To make it easier for your eyes to spot the shimmering gold, avoid choosing a spot in the shade.

It’s not just gold you’ll find; you may also find a variety of gemstones like Peridot, Topaz, Garnet, Quartz, Amethyst, Citrine, or Agates.

Once you finish up with the panning, you can head to the gift shop and find some souvenirs.

Overall, if you have an interest in the history of mining or the Colorado gold rush, this tour is a really interesting way to spend about an hour and a half. I learned a great deal throughout the tour and had fun with my first ever attempt at gold panning! If interested, I’d highly recommend that you book online !

Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and the credit card app, WalletFlo . He is a former attorney turned travel expert covering destinations along with TSA, airline, and hotel policies. Since 2014, his content has been featured in publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, and CNBC. Read my bio .

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• Idaho Springs

Argo Gold Mine & Mill Tour

2350 Riverside Drive, Idaho Springs , Colorado 80452 USA

• Independent
• Credit Cards Accepted
• Not Wheelchair Accessible
• Public Restrooms
• Outdoor Seating

“A former mining and milling property”

In 1893 construction of the Argo tunnel began. It took 17 years to complete the route to Central City, 4.5 miles away. The tunnel provided water drainage, ventilation, and economical transport of the gold bearing ore from the mines. The Argo Mill was built to process the ore. The gold fetched prices from $18 to $35 an ounce.The Mill stands today as a memorial to the hard rock miners from the days when GOLD WAS KING. The Mill tour is educational and fun for all ages.

Reviewed by ErinHarlineEichelberger

I gave this a five star rating just for being pet friendly. We didn't get to do the tour due to our time restrictions. But they allow leashes dogs to go on the tour as long as they are nice dogs. Since we were traveling across the country with our dog this was a definite plus since we didn't do anything we couldn't include our dog in.

Reviewed by MnDanK1957

Well ErinHarlineEichelberger, the reviewer before me had a different experience than we did. In our episode we arrived at the mine from Minnesota and were promptly turned away from the tour with our two K-9 friends. We would have paid full admission price for the dogs, but they had to stay in the car. So my wife and I stayed with them and we blew outta there like the wind. The people were nice enough, but not dog friendly by any means. Your pooch will end up sitting in the car waiting for you.

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Argo Mill and Tunnel: Museum and Tours

303-567-2421.

Learn to Pan for Gold at The Argo!

A national historic sites -- fun for all ages -- in idaho springs.

The Argo Mill and Tunnel established in 1893 is an historic gold mining operation, lovingly preserved, in Idaho Spring, Colorado. Discover over one hundred years of Colorado history; see how gold bearing ore was processed at the turn of the last century as you tour our Historic Mining and Milling Museum. This National Historic Site allows you to step into Colorado's Gold Rush. Pan for gold and gemstones.

THE ARGO GOLD MILL : On a guided tour see how GOLD ORE was processed at the turn-of-the-century. When completed the Argo would be the largest mill of its type in the world. The Mill processed over 100 million dollars of Gold Ore, when gold was $18 to $35 per ounce. It stands today as a memorial to the Hard Rock Miners of the day . . . When Gold was KING!

The Museum has a display of many fine ore and mineral specimens and a collection of old photographs, mining tools and equipment.

THE ARGO TUNNEL : In 1893, construction of the Argo Tunnel began, it would be 17 years before it would reach Central City, over 4.2 miles away. The Tunnel provided water drainage, ventilation, and economical transportation. Many mines intersected the tunnel along the way, making the transport of Gold bearing ORE easier and safer.

GOLD AND GEM PANNING : Included with each tour ticket is a gold panning experience lead by your tour guide. Each guest has the option of a gold pan or gem sluice, although we recommend all those over five years of age gold pan. Each gold pan is guaranteed to leave rich in memories! Panning can also be done separate from the tour without a reservation.

OPEN : Everyday Year Round! Our tours run at the top of the hour every hour with the first tour leaving at 10am and the last at 4pm. During the winter months we stay open when possible. Please check with website (link above) for online bookings as this will host the most up to date information.

LOCATION : The Mighty Argo is in north central Colorado west of Denver, off I-70 in Idaho Springs. From downtown Denver it's a 35 minute drive; from Boulder it's a 60 minute drive and from central Colorado Springs it's a 1:40 hour drive.

DIRECTIONS : At the junction of I-25 and I-70, take I-70 west into the mountains to Exit 241; at the traffic circle use the 2nd exit onto Colorado Boulevard. Turn right (north) onto 23rd Avenue. At the T turn right (east) onto Riverside Drive, Argo Mill and Tunnel will be on your left.

ADDRESS : 2350 Riverside Drive, Idaho Springs CO 80452

• Elevation : 7600 feet above sea level.
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• Open Dates For On-Site Activities : All Year

Primarily Summer Activities

• Whitewater Rafting Office/Pickup point : On site.
• Mine Tours : On site.

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The Argo Mill and Tunnel in Idaho Springs was finished in 1913 and ran until 1943 when a flood in the tunnel drowned four men. Today, visitors can tour the old mill and tunnel.

• photos by Christian Murdock, The Gazette
• Copy article link

Tour guide Erin Huseman demonstrates how the large equipment in the Argo Mill worked to extract the ore from the waste rock while leading a tour this month through the Argo Mill and Tunnel.

• Christian Murdock, The denver Gazette

Visitors explore the tunnel at the Argo Mill and Tunnel in Idaho Springs this month. Businessman Samuel Newhouse began digging the tunnel in 1893 to drain water from the mines below Central City while transporting men, supplies and rock over rail 4.2 miles into the mountain.

• Christian Murdock/The Gazette

People walk through downtown Idaho Springs, rich in mining history, Thursday, May 2, 2024. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)

Visitors pan for gold Thursday, May 2, 2024, after touring the Argo Mill and Tunnel in Idaho Springs. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)

Robert and Jan Bowland talk this month about the mining history of Idaho Springs at the Idaho Springs Heritage Museum.

• Photos by Christian Murdock, The Gazette

A Tommyknocker mural decorates the outside of the Idaho Springs Tommyknocker Brewpub. The Cornish folklore of the Tommyknockers was that of underground elves who knocked on the wall of the mines to warn miners of impending collapse.

Tour guide Erin Huseman demonstrats how the stamper worked in the Argo Mill Thursday, May, 2024, while leading a tour through the mill and tunnel. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)

Equipment used by the miners sits on display in the museum at the Argo Mill and Tunnel Thursday, May 2, 2024. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)

Visitors explore a cyanide leaching tank Thursday, May 2, 2024, in the museum after touring the Argo MIll and Tunnel. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)

The discovery, mill and tunnel that shaped Colorado's gold destiny

Seth Boster

Features writer

• Author twitter
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• May 20, 2024
• May 20, 2024 Updated May 21, 2024

The Argo Mill and Tunnel, located in Idaho Springs, Colorado, played a crucial role in the state's gold mining history, representing a major industrial boom in the region. Once the center of gold processing, it is now a historical landmark attracting visitors with its story of mining innovation.

IDAHO SPRINGS • A stone monument stands near a junction of highways that was once known as a junction of creeks.

It stands inconspicuous, just a rock atop a block. It’s been even easier to miss lately, surrounded by orange construction wrap, lost in the hubbub.

“It’s an important spot of Colorado history that nobody knows about,” Robert Bowland says.

The local historian knows it as the spot where the Colorado gold rush began.

Not far from where Colorado 103 runs south from Interstate 70, one might pull over to read the name and date on the stone: George A. Jackson, Jan. 7, 1859.

The man noted the date in his diary, along with snowbound misadventures involving his two dogs and run-ins with mountain lions and a wolverine around the creeks that would be called Clear and Chicago.

Jackson wrote of panning along the banks by his camp: “Panned out eight treaty cups of dirt and nothing but fine colors ... 9th cup I got one nugget coarse gold ... Feel good tonight.”

Colorado, as the wild territory was called later, would never be the same.

“This was not actually the first gold discovered in streams in Colorado,” Bowland says from Idaho Springs’ museum, “but it was the first commercially viable one.”

Young Jackson — cousin to the more famous Kit Carson — drew gold here around the time prospectors toiled along the South Platte River and Cherry Creek in modern day Denver and around the time of another rush: “Pikes Peak or Bust,” read wagons across the plains. A migration focused on the silver-rich San Juan Mountains as well.

But nowhere saw quite the industrial boom as these mountains around Idaho Springs.

However often missed that stone marker for Jackson, travelers along I-70 can’t possibly miss the red, hilltop structure standing to represent advances that further put the state on the map.

A short documentary greets tourists at the Argo Mill and Tunnel.

“It was the center of the universe for gold in Colorado and in the West for many years,” Mary Jane Loevlie narrates in the video.

She’s one of the owners of the “Mighty Argo,” as reporters proclaimed it some 130 years ago. Bowland is another owner, alongside his wife, Jan.

The couple leads the local historical society in the wake of generations of family in the area. Robert’s great-grandparents homesteaded in the 1870s while Jan’s father oversaw a mining company that she suspects contributed some of the gold atop the State Capitol’s dome.

“In high school I couldn’t care less about history; it was just memorizing dates and places and stuff,” Jan says. “But boy, once we started getting into it, we just can’t read enough.”

For history on the landmark mill and tunnel, one can read “The Great Argo Project,” the book by Terry Cox.

It’s a history that begins with Samuel Newhouse, a businessman who developed his acumen from Pennsylvania’s coal fields and grew his fortune from Colorado’s San Juans. Newhouse’s hometown newspaper, The Scranton Republican, in 1877 praised his “efficient and courteous” approach, his “careful execution” and “polite and suave manner”

Those were no doubt traits behind the tunnel he envisioned connecting the mines of Clear Creek and Gilpin counties.

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In 1893, with backing from British investors, Newhouse incorporated the Argo Mining, Drainage, Transportation and Tunnel Co. Spanning 4 miles inside the mountains, the tunnel would drain water that previously blocked miners from reserves while transporting men and supplies over rail.

Reads “A Quick History of Idaho Springs,” by Beth Simmons: “The tunnel set the standard for new patterns of underground cooperative mining, inspiring over 100 miles of tunnels in the greater Idaho Springs area alone.”

The accompanying mill, finished in 1913, set other standards. About 50,000 visitors every year get the education as they walk the multi-story structure of steel, wood and brick.

The mill is “an enigma to first-time visitors,” Cox writes in his Argo book. “It is a big box that holds a collection of crazy-looking contraptions that seem to make no sense. They are contrivances that most people have never seen before and will likely never encounter anywhere else.”

The author offers advice: “The simplest way to understand the Argo Mill and its machinery is to realize that everything in the building contributed to one central purpose: remove stuff that was not gold.”

While reportedly processing more than $100 million worth of low-grade ore over 20 years — more than $1 billion in this century’s economy — it is believed more than 300,000 cubic meters of “waste rock” was removed and dumped from the mill. Crushing was one means of processing. That was the job of a stamper equipped with loud, churning pistons that contributed to thick dust clouding the mill.

The stamper was but one clamorous machine that contributed to the reputation of the area. “Thunder in the Valley,” it was known by listeners about 20 miles away in Golden.

The Argo is thought to have been louder than a jet engine, says a tour guide this day, Erin Huseman.

“All the mill men were deaf to nearly deaf,” she says. “They would’ve felt their insides liquify from all the vibration that was going on in here.”

It was a chemical-laden place, sickening. Nearby is the compressor room, home to another hulking machine that pumped fresh air down into other sickening environs: the mines where more men worked long and hard in the dark.

The tour goes a short distance into the cavernous tunnel where miners loaded into railcars. “They would take hundreds of men to start their 12- to 14-hour shifts, and they would take hundreds of men out all through that portal door,” Huseman says. “It was a busy, busy place.”

The place’s visionary was gone by then, off to another enterprise in Salt Lake City. Newhouse looked on from afar, remarking in an interview: “Of course I feel elated to know that the tunnel, which was really a boyish dream, has measured up to most sanguine expectations. Its future will be greater than its past ...”

The Argo was among mining operations scaled back by the onset of World War II. Among men who stayed behind were four who faced a tragic fate in 1943. They drowned in a flood that came rushing through the compromised tunnel — an event that spelled the Argo’s demise.

Over the years, fatalities were also reported from dynamite, electrocution and various injuries. Grim fates awaited more.

“So many miners died at 40 from lung disease,” Jan Bowland says from her Argo office. “When that rock dust gets in your lungs, it’s like concrete, and pretty soon you can’t breathe.”

Decades prior to their ownership, she and Robert watched a new legacy unfold at the Argo: In the 1980s, the Environmental Protection Agency embarked on a massive cleanup of the Superfund site.

The agency’s water treatment plant is seen along today’s tour. It inspires a reflection on the lasting legacy of the gold rush, one of ruin and wreckage.

The cost paid by everyday miners is not lost on Jan.

“It’s incredible what they did to be here, and for us to be here,” she says.

All starting with George A. Jackson’s chance discovery on Jan. 7, 1859, that name and date marked by the crossroads.

Traffic rushes by on the highway, man and machine carrying on with more construction, progress unrelenting. And between it all, that stone monument still standing.

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• Clear Creek County
• Clear Creek School District
• George Jackson
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Idaho Springs, Colorado : Tour a Gold Mine

An estimated $100 million in gold ore came out of the Double Eagle Mine and went through the Argo Mill from the 1850s to the 1960s.

Argo Gold Mine

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Our schedule is subject to change. It is recommended to book online or call ahead to confirm availability. Please arrive at least 15 minutes ahead of your tour. Group rates available to 25+ persons only, and reservations are required.

As with cave tours, it's always best to call ahead to make certain that a guide will be there when you visit.

Got to pan for gold at the end of the tour!

The actual mine part is relatively small, but exploring the old mine buildings multiple levels and remaining equipment is the highlight. Afterward, pan for gold and get pictures with the rustic equipment. Great tour, takes about an hour.

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Idaho Springs’ Argo Mill & Tunnel

The Argo Tunnel and Mill serves as a reminder of Central City and Idaho Springs’ importance in the Colorado Gold Rush, and it is part of the historic preservation efforts of the Idaho Springs, Black Hawk, and Central City areas.

In January of 1859, George Andrew Jackson discovered gold in Clear Creek, and John Gregory found gold in the North Fork of the same river on May 6. Jackson’s discovery led to the creation of modern-day Idaho Springs, and out of Gregory’s discovery emerged Central City, Black Hawk, and Nevadaville. Nevadaville has since become a ghost town, but Idaho Springs remains home to approximately 2,000 people. Central City and Black Hawk, although less populated, now primarily serve as gambling towns. The Argo Tunnel, whose construction began in 1891 and finished in 1910, served to connect the two mining areas and provide drainage for the water used in mining operations. At about $5 million dollars to build and just under 22,000 feet long, the Argo Tunnel was the longest tunnel in the world in 1910. The effects of the Argo tunnel are still noticeable in both tourism and the efforts to clean up the Clear Creek area.

Mining took place in Idaho Springs from 1859 to the early-1940s, when gold mining halted due to World War II. Meanwhile, the Central City–Black Hawk area quickly lost mining importance in the 1880s, and in 1918 the area stopped producing gold, pivoting to emphasize tourism through the Central City Opera House. However, by the 1980s, Central City and Black Hawk faced significant structural and health issues. The water had been condemned, and the city could not financially provide upkeep for historic buildings. In response, Colorado voters brought gambling back to the area. Once known as “the richest square mile on earth,” Central City has since taken a backseat to Black Hawk, although both still retain own casino districts. Due to the reintroduction of gambling, Black Hawk and Central City became concerned with cleaning up the pollution from and remnants of mines.

Meanwhile, because of Idaho Springs’ proximity to Interstate 70—convenient for commuting to Denver—the old Argo Mill and Argo Tunnel are visible from the freeway. The tunnel was sealed on January 19, 1943 when an accident flooded the chamber and killed four individuals. In addition to draining water from mines by using a low-grade decline from its origin in Central City to the end point in Idaho Springs, the Argo Tunnel also served to ventilate the mines and provide ore transportation.

In total, the Argo Tunnel processed around three trillion dollars’ worth of gold by today’s standard. Today, visitors can view original mining equipment, the Argo mill itself, and part of the Argo Tunnel. The tunnel is not safe due to the buildup of mining pollution, but removing the pollution is currently part of the EPA superfund site’s goals. Individuals can even experience a glimpse of the lives of Jackson and Gregory as they pan for gold. Overall, the Argo Tunnel serves as a reminder of the environmental damage caused by decades of mining as well as the town histories of Central City, Black Hawk, and Idaho Springs.

Related Resources

• Amhearst, Pop. “Argo Gold Mine & Mill.” American Road , Spring 2016, 71.
• “Come Explore Colorado’s Gold Milling History,” Argo Mill Tour , available at https://argomilltour.com .
• “Central City-Black Hawk Historic District,” Colorado Encyclopedia , available at https://coloradoencyclopedia.org/article/central-city–black-hawk-historic-district .
• Environmental Protection Agency. “Superfund Site: Central City, Clear Creek, Idaho Springs, CO.” https://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/cursites/csitinfo.cfm?id=0800257 .
• Historical Society of Idaho Springs. “History.” Excerpted from Tailings, Tracks and Tommyknockers: A History of Clear Creek County . Idaho Springs: Historical Society of Idaho Springs, 1986, 2004. https://historicidahosprings.com/history/ .

Citation Info

Filed under.

• Labor, Industry, and Economics
• Environmental History
• Idaho Springs Colorado
• Superfund Sites

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Argo Mine Tour Idaho Springs - 381215

Argo mine idaho springs, $62.00 - $67.00, activity details, meeting details, eligibility, restrictions.