Once upon a time, in Jo Daviss County, mining was all the rage. In fact, it was a pretty common profession. There were significant lead and ore deposits in the area. Galena, in fact, is the name of a mineral. Those days, for the most part, are done. And certainly, the primitive mines we once used are no longer operational. But that doesn’t mean that they aren’t still around. Case in point is Vinegar Hill Lead Mine. This mine was developed by an Irishman in 1822. The mine was passed down for generations through the family. Eventually, it did close. It used to be that you could get a tour of the mine, but since the museum closed, you cannot go inside. However, the mine is still there. This video is the closest you can get to seeing what it is like.

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