Unless you happen to see the giant “M” as you drive into town, you might not be aware of Platteville’s rich mining history. In the 1800s, lead miners settled this area and helped built a new state. While the mining industry has largely disappeared here, if you head underground, this fascinating history is waiting to be discovered. The Mining & Rollo Jamison Museum will take you into the depths of a mine and you can see exactly what life was like for these hardworking miners. It’s a dark and amazing journey – here’s why.
The Mining & Rollo Jamison Museum is located on Platteville’s Main Street, which was the heart of mining country. If you drive around the neighborhood you might notice that some of the streets are crooked. It’s not the product of a lazy surveyor: the streets were routed around old mines.
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The museum complex spans three acres and visitors are encouraged to explore the property. The complex preserves details of 1800s life, including the 1863 Rock School. Exhibits offer details on the culture and history of the area.
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To appreciate mining history more fully, you’ll want to head underground. The property includes the 1845 Bevans mine, an underground world that’s open to the public.
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Tours of the mine last one hour and provide details of the mining life that you could never get from a book or website.
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Over 150 years ago a miner named Lorenzo Bevans struck it rich just a few yards from the museum’s back door. The mine was a huge success – it produced over two million pounds of valuable lead ore in one year.
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When you descend the 90 steps into the mine, you’ll be immediately transported into the world of a miner. You’ll feel the temperature and humidity change and things will become very dark.
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The tour is informative – you’ll learn how the ore was transported to the surface and all about lead and zinc mining. Back above ground, kids can hop aboard a 1931 mine train and enjoy a trip around the complex. Before leaving town, you may want to visit that giant M you may have passed on the way in – it’s a hike with an incredible view.
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Address: The Mining & Rollo Jamison Museums, 405 E Main St, Platteville, WI 53818, USA
