The Western Museum of Mining & Industry

"Interesting, working machines, and lots of info"

This is a great place to combine with your visit to the United States Air Force Academy, just across the street, with a picnic area.  My girls just love the burros! Here you will find mining machines that still operate, tours, classes, exhibits, and for your older kids, a truly creepy haunted mine during Halloween. There is enough hands on activity to keep my kids interested, and even the website has some fun activities to reinforce what your kids learned at the museum once you get home.

We like that you can pan for gold in a find and drop trough without having to pay for the experience. We also like dressing up in the mining uniforms.  The machines are great, and my girls were particularly amazed by the giant Corliss engine with a wheel that weighs as much as 4 grown elephants.

We plan to attend a special event in June with the stamper machine is run during a rock festival.