Cresson Mine


Useful Information

Location: Tours start at the Victor Lowell Thomas Museum, Victor
Open: Cresson Mine: JUN to 04-SEP Mon-Wed, Fri-Sun 10, 13.
Victor Lowell Thomas Museum: 28-MAY to 05-SEP daily 9:30-17:30.
06-SEP to 09-OCT Sat, Sun 9:30-17:30.
[2011]
Fee: Cresson Mine: Adults USD 7.50.
Victor Lowell Thomas Museum: Adults USD 6, Children (4-12) USD 3, Children (0-3) free, Seniors (60+) USD 4.
Groups (20+): Adults USD 4.
[2011]
Classification:
Light: LightIncandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:
Guided tours: D=2h
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address: Cresson Mine, 500 Victor Ave., Victor, Tel: +1-719-689-4211, Tel: +1-719-689-5509. E-mail: contact
Victor Lowell Thomas Museum, Third & Victor Ave., POB 238, Victor, CO 80860, Tel: +1-719-689-5509. E-mail: contact
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then.
Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1890 gold ore discovered.
1891 gold ore discovered, Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Rush.
JUN-1958 Victor Museum opened.

Geology


Description

The Cresson Mine is an open cast mine operated by the Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mining Company (CC&V). During the summer months they offer guided tours starting at the Victor Lowell Thomas Museum. The tour shows a modern working gold mine. Highlights are the possibility to push a 1-ton ore cart and a ride on a Tram-Air-Locomotive. The normal operation includes giant trucks hauling ore which is then mashed into pebbles in the crusher.

The tours are not tourist tours through an abandoned mine, the mine is still operating so there are several security regulations. The tours are resticted to 13 persons, which is the van capacity. It is advisable to pre-book the tickets on their website or by phone. Visitors must arrive at least 15 minutes before the tour to sign waivers and view a safety video. If visitors do not check in at this time, the places may be given to visitors on standby.

The Victor Lowell Thomas Museum is the start of the tour and also a mining museum dedicated to the mining history of Victor. It is operated by the non profit Victor Improvement Association. Two floors of artifacts, books, exhibits and photographs include the collection of Lowell Thomas, a once famous journalist, author and world traveler who grew up in Victor.