Explore An Old Silver Mine 100-Feet Below The Surface On This Underground Walking Tour In Arizona
By Katie Lawrence|Published August 23, 2021
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Katie Lawrence
Author
Katie Lawrence is a Southeast Texas native who graduated 18th in her high school class with a GPA of 4.25. She attended college in the Houston area and began writing for OnlyInYourState in 2015.
Today, Katie writes, edits, and performs several other tasks for OnlyInYourState and has never been more passionate about a job before. Outside of work, you can likely find her curled up on with a hot cup of coffee, practicing yoga, baking, or exploring the beautiful Lone Star State (in particular, the vast and mystical West Texas desert).
The iconic Queen Mine in Bisbee might be the most well-known mine in Arizona, but there’s another that’s equally worthy of recognition. Hiding in the rough-and-tumble town of Tombstone, the site of the infamous O.K. Corral shooting, is the Goodenough Silver Mine. One of the largest veins of silver in Arizona history was discovered here, and it transformed Tombstone from a dusty old outpost to a thriving boomtown. Today, you can venture 100 feet below the surface and see the mine for yourself, complete with original artifacts left behind by workers and authentic mineral deposits.
In the Wild West town of Tombstone, known as "the town too tough to die," the historic Goodenough Mine is among the most well-preserved mines in the state.
Production began in 1878 after Ed Schieffelin, military scout and the first official resident of Tombstone, discovered one of the richest strikes of silver the area had ever seen. The mine was active for 30 years until, inevitably, the vein ran dry, and Tombstone's slow decline into a dusty old ghost town began shortly after.
Since 2000, the mine has been proudly owned by married couple Shirley and Andre DeJournett, who restored the underground tunnels to near-original condition before welcoming the public for tours in 2007.
The pair spent a total of six years preparing the mine for visitors, discovering items such as newspapers from 1880, boots, and jeans, all once belonging to the workers.
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Today, all who embark on the Goodenough Mine Tour descend 100 feet underground into the heart of Arizona's silver mining industry.
You'll get to see actual deposits of silver and many other minerals, as well as demonstrations of mining techniques, all while knowledgeable guides narrate the history of the mine and Tombstone as a whole.
That's exactly what the mine workers had to deal with as they traversed over 300 miles of passageways in search of silver - without the aid of power tools to excavate their findings, to boot!
You never know just what relics of the past you'll stumble upon when you're down here.
Recently, the Goodenough Mine Tour staff discovered an area of the mine that hadn't seen human foot traffic since the 1920s. Check out these original ore carts - they're a little rusty, but in good condition otherwise!
The tour lasts around 45 minutes and costs $18 for adults, $10 for military and seniors, and $8 for children ages 6-12.
Have you ever taken a tour of the Goodenough Silver Mine? If so, tell us all about your experience in the comments section below. Don’t forget to check out our previous article for another bucket list worthy mine tour in Arizona!
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