Open for self-guided tours throughout the summer season, the Mayflower Gold Mill was built in 1929 in just six months. It’s located about 5 miles by car northeast of downtown Silverton in Southwest Colorado.
This National Historic Landmark typically opens to the public on May 24th each year and operates tours until mid-October. It was the last one built in the San Juan Mountains, the most advanced, as well as the single longest-running mill in this mountain range. In total it operated from February 1930 to 1991, shutting down for 12 years during that time frame, resulting in 49 years of milling.
The Mayflower Mill, originally called the Shenandoah-Dives Mill, is the only remaining functional mill of its kind in the whole state, still in working order. You can see the Landmark status floatation technology and see how the entire place is being preserved.
A lot of gold and silver was found in Southwest Colorado, home the San Juan Mountains. They were among the last mountain ranges for prospectors to uncover. The Mayflower Mill had:
- 9,700,500 tons — total amount of rock milled
- 1,940,100 ounces of gold
- 30,000,000 ounces of silver
- 1,000,000 tons of combined base metals
Discover how the precious minerals were extracted from the hard rock ores. The entire mill process is covered. There are ten industrial components on the Mill site. Stop by the Aerial Tram House with its original system still intact.
It will take roughly 25 minutes to reach the Mayflower Mill from the town of Silverton. If you continue northeast along the 4×4 Alpine Loop, in about thirty minutes you’ll reach the ghost town of Animas Forks.
Details
Address: 135 Co Rd 2, Silverton, CO 81433
Phone: 970-508-0214 | 970-387-5609
Email: archives@sanjuanhistoricalsociety.org
Season: May 24 (or earlier) to mid-October
Admission: Cost for adults, seniors, and vets, and kids (5-12)
Website: sanjuancountyhistoricalsociety.org/mayflower-mill.html