Spotlight: Colorado - Silverton Old One Hundred Mine Tour

Spotlight: In the spring of 1872 the Neigold brothers arrived from Germany and staked their claim on the "Number Seven" vein. Reinhard, Gustave and Otto Neigold organized the Midland Mining Company and spent 30 years prospecting the veins on Galena Mountain. In 1904, the Midland Mining properties were sold to the Old Hundred Mining Company. By 1906, gold bars were being shipped to the Denver Mint. By 1908 the good gold was "mined out" and the financial panic of 1907 dried up sources of new capital. The Old Hundred Mining Company never made a profit on the ore it mined, and later defaulted on its debt to the Neigolds who got the now abandoned property back. The brothers tried to sell the mine but eventually lost it due to unpaid back taxes. During the 1930's, new owners worked the mine sporadically but still unprofitably. By 1973, the mine was finally abandoned. It remained so until it was opened up to tours.

Galena Mountain

Location: The Old Hundred Gold Mine is located at 721 County Road 4A, Silverton, CO. It took longer to get there than we expected because of road work and its location outside of town, but we got there just in time for the last tour.

Cost: $18.95/adult; $9.95/child (5-12); $16.95/senior (60+)

Time: From early May to early October, the Old Hundred Gold mine is open for tours. Tours start at 10:00 am with the last tour at 4:00. The tour takes one hour, so plan on spending about 90 minutes there.

Description: The tour takes you 1/3 of a mile into the heart of the Galena Mountain. First you take an old open mining cart into the heart of the mine. Then you get out and walk through the tunnels where the miners worked. You get an up close view of vein of colorful crystals with demonstrations of how mining work was done while your tour guide explains how the equipment was used back in the early-mid 1900's as well as other interesting tidbits on mining life - including a view of an original "port-o-potty".

old elevator

Mining Car port-o-potty

     Before or after the tour, visitors can try out their hand at panning for gold (or silver or copper) in the sluice box. Panning is "free" with a paid tour and you may keep any metal you find.

Rating: 2 1/2 stars (out of 5); the tour was interesting, but not worth the price of admission.

Things You Should Know: - The "Million Dollar Highway" from Durango to Ourey is quite steep with steep drop-offs, so if steep mountainous roads scare you, you won't like this one.
- Give yourself extra time to get there because of low speeds and road conditions.
- Our tour guide was a no-nonsense ex-miner who told it like it was. If children are getting a little careless, he makes sure the parents set them straight.
- If you are visiting Silverton via train, there is a Train Connection Shuttle.
- Temperature inside the mine is a constant 48 degrees, so a jacket or sweater is recommended.
- You wear the rain slicker for protection from the water which you will probably encounter and a helmet to protect you from falling rock which you probably won't encounter.

Nearby: Durango & Silverton Narrow Guage Railroad Train, Ouray Hot Springs, Cascade Falls Park, The Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP