10 Mine Tours that will completely blow your mind!

"There's gold in them thar hills!" That cry launched multiple gold rushes, in California, Alaska and a few other states. But it wasn't just gold that proved tempting: coal, iron, silver, copper, uranium and zinc were also vital to the growth of American industry during the 19th century, and fueled various booms and busts.

The harvesting of these precious earth elements led to several family fortunes: the Guggenheims and Hearsts are just two prominent American dynasties that got their start in the mining industry.

Now, if you're not into spending your workweek in a dark, damp mining tunnel, these ten tours will give you a great idea of the history, the danger and the quirky personalities who bet it all on a promising hunk of underground real estate.

1. OLD NEW-GATE PRISON & COPPERN MINE, EAST GRANBY, CT

Now, here's a clever use for a mine gone bust. It started as one of the first commercial copper mines in early America, but went bust by the 1750s. So they used all those tunnels to imprison criminals, especially political prisoners during the American Revolution. The prison was closed in 1827 - but visitors can still get a taste of the mining/inmate experience!

2. STERLING HILL MINE, OGDENSBURG, NJ

Yes, mining took place in this Jersey town just an hour west of New York City. In fact, its one of the oldest mines in the US, first worked for its zinc deposits around 1739 and finally closing in 1986. Besides zinc, it has an amazing variety of fluorescent minerals; after the mine tour, the Museum of Fluorescence will have you "oohing" and "aahing."

3. PORTAL 31, LYNCH, KY

Coal mining is inextricably linked to Kentucky. In 1917, Lynch, KY was specifically built as a "coal camp" by a subsidiary of U.S. Steel. By the 1940s, more than 4,000 people worked for the mine. This tour gives you a look inside the mine, as well as historic structures for the camp, like a vintage train depot.

4. SOUDAN UNDERGROUND MINE STATE PARK, SOUDAN, MN

Step into the cage and drop 2,341 feet underground into Minnesota's first iron ore mine. For almost a century, the particular nature of this ore went into the making of high-quality steel. Changing technology led to the closing of what was once called the "Cadillac of Mines."

5. KANSAS UNDERGROUND SALT MUSEUM, HUTCHINSON, KS

Turns out, there really is such a thing as "the salt mine." This one takes you down about 650 feet to chambers where the ancient Permian sea left huge salt deposits before disappearing. The Salt Mine Express takes you to a raw portion of the mine, which features many items left behind by miners of the past.

6. BONNE TERRE MINE, BONNE TERRE, MO

When the mine shut down in 1962, groundwater poured in, submerging three lower levels and 88 miles of passageways. Billion Gallon Lake now hosts scuba divers, boat rides - even jet skiers - who splash above the eerie remains of mining equipment still visible beneath the crystal clear water.

7. MOLLIE KATHLEEN GOLD MINE TOUR, CRIPPLE CREEK, CO

In 1891, Mollie Kathleen Gortner was the first woman to strike a gold claim at this famous location. This tour sends you down the only 1,000-foot vertical shaft gold mine, and allows you to see gold veins in their natural state. You'll also see an amazing array of mining equipment, from 1891 tools through the machines of today.

8. OLD HUNDRED GOLD MINE TOUR, SILVERTON, CO

It took about 60 years before the various owners of this mine realized that it didn't hold the hoped for "mother lode." But all that digging and drilling has paid off in one of the coolest mine tours out there. You'll ride a vintage mine train into the mountain, but kids will really love the fact that they can "pan" for gold - and keep whatever treasures they find!

9. QUEEN MINE TOUR, BISBEE, AZ

For a hundred years, the Queen Mine turned out enormous amounts of copper. Now you can put on a hardhat and ride down 1,500 feet into the mine shaft on an open train car. The tour guides are retired miners who share what it's like to work in such tight (and dangerous) quarters!

10. MINE UNDER THE PONDEROSA SALOON, VIRGINIA CITY, NV

During the 1850s, there were a ton of miners looking for gold and silver within the Best & Belcher Mine. They came up empty, but someone had the genius idea to dig a tunnel connecting all those other tunnels -- to a saloon. The mine itself isn't terribly impressive, but it does provide an accurate sense of those Old West mining conditions. And you can grab a "sarsaparilla" right after the tour!