National Register of Historic Places

Smuggler Mine

Aspen, Pitkin County, Colorado
Listed
May 17, 1987
Type
Site
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
87000194

About this property

The Smuggler Mine is located on the slopes of Smuggler Mountain, on the north edge of Aspen, Colorado, United States. It is the oldest operating silver mine in the Aspen mining district, and one of the few still operating from Aspen's early boom years. In 1987 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The largest silver nugget ever mined, weighing 2,340 pounds (1,060 kg), came from Smuggler. At its peak the mine was responsible for nearly one-fifth of the world's total silver output. Its extensive tunnel system reaches more than a thousand feet (300 m) below the entrance, extending under the city of Aspen, although most of the lower tunnels are presently flooded. Smuggler was one of the few mines in the Aspen area to reopen after the 1893 repeal of the Sherman Silver Purchase Act. It continued producing ore until 1918, and was reopened in the 1970s. In 1984 it was designated a Superfund site after tests found high levels of lead and cadmium in the soil. It took the Environmental Protection Agency 12 years to clean up the site. While it is estimated that nearly a million pounds (400,000 kg) of recoverable ore remain in the mine, it is used as much for tours today as mining. In 2012 it and two nearby lots were put up for sale.

Location

Aspen, Pitkin County, Colorado
39.19346, -106.80686

Categories

INDUSTRYENGINEERING
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Sheely Bridge
Industrial
0.4 mi
Boat Tow
Listed
0.5 mi
Pitkin County Courthouse
Industrial
0.6 mi
Wheeler Opera House
Industrial
0.6 mi
Armory Hall, Fraternal Hall
Industrial
0.7 mi

Questions about this property

When was Smuggler Mine listed on the National Register?

Smuggler Mine was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 17, 1987.

What type of historic resource is Smuggler Mine?

Smuggler Mine is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Smuggler Mine?

The period of significance for Smuggler Mine is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Smuggler Mine?

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