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Discover the Western Museum of Mining & Industry Tour in Colorado

Explore Colorado’s rich mining heritage through massive machines, working steam engines, gold-processing demonstrations, and hands-on exhibits at the Western Museum of Mining & Industry (WMMI). This award-winning museum brings the story of hard-rock mining, milling, geology, and early Western technology to life.
Why it’s special:
WMMI features fully operational mining machinery, including working stamp mills, pneumatic drills, and steam engines—rare equipment that most museums only display statically.

History/Story of the Western Museum of Mining & Industry

Founded in 1970 by a team of engineers, historians, and mining professionals, WMMI was built to preserve the technological history of the American West. The museum houses more than 4,000 artifacts from Colorado’s mining boom, including machinery once used in Cripple Creek, Leadville, and Gilman. Over the decades, it has grown into a major educational center for geology, engineering, and industrial history.

What You’ll See & Do at the Western Museum of Mining & Industry

Watch live demonstrations of a 10-stamp gold mill, blacksmith forge, and steam engines
Explore full-size mining equipment: compressors, drills, crushers, hoists, and ore buckets
Walk through detailed displays on blasting, mine ventilation, smelting, and metallurgy
Visit the model mine drift illustrating underground mining techniques
Discover gemstone geology with interactive mineral and rock exhibits
Tour the historic Reynolds Ranch House on select days
Enjoy outdoor exhibits including giant headframes, pipelines, and water wheels

Hands-On Elements: Gold panning, mineral ID tables, crank-operated machinery, demo stations, kid-friendly engineering models.
Photo/Video Policy: Photography encouraged; no flash during indoor machinery demos.
Souvenirs & Extras: Rocks, gemstones, gold panning kits, books, toys, shirts, hats, Colorado jewelry, and Cripple Creek ore.

Pricing of the Western Museum of Mining & Industry

Adults: $12
Military / AAA: $10
Seniors (60+): $10
Students (13–17): $10
Children (ages 3–12): $6
Children under 3: Free
Gold Panning: Included with admission
Group rates available

Practical Info for Visiting WMMI

Duration: 1–2 hours
Format: Self-guided or guided tour with live machinery demos
Schedule & Seasonality: Open year-round
Working Hours:

Monday–Saturday: 9:00 AM–4:00 PM
Closed Sunday
Audience: Families, school groups, engineers, history lovers, rockhounds
Accessibility: Most areas accessible; outdoor exhibits on uneven ground
Safety & Restrictions:
Stay behind barriers during machinery operations
Supervise children near moving mechanical displays
Languages: English
Group Visits: Popular for STEM classes and scouting groups
What to Bring/Wear: Comfortable shoes; light jacket for outdoor exhibits
Facilities: Gift shop, restrooms, classrooms, picnic areas, event spaces, parking
Closures & Downtime: Machinery demos operate at scheduled times

Nearby

U.S. Air Force Academy
Garden of the Gods
Monument Rock
Glen Eyrie Castle

FAQs About Visiting the Western Museum of Mining & Industry

Do they really run the machinery?
Yes—WMMI is one of the only museums that operates its historic crushers, drills, steam engines, and stamp mills during guided demos.

Is gold panning included?
Yes—every admission includes hands-on gold panning outside.

Are the demonstrations loud?
Some equipment (especially drills and stamp mills) can be loud, but guides warn visitors before starting.

Is the museum good for young kids?
Absolutely—children love the hands-on engineering models, gold panning, and big machinery.

What is the rarest artifact here?
The fully operational 10-stamp mill, which is one of the last running stamp mills in the country.