San Juan County Historical Society

This place was very interesting. We were on a girls trip to Colorado and went on a drive from Durango to Silverton to see the trees changing colors. We stumbled upon this museum and we were interested in seeing what they had to offer. It was a mining museum that had collections of rocks and minerals, uniforms and tools used by the miners and other items that were interesting.

For those folks that need it, they do have a small elevator. This is also next to the restroom on the lower floor.

Besides the rock/mineral room, I found the assay section interesting, where they had scales and weights used to weight the gold or minerals mined.

In the gift shop I found two rocks I liked and bought them and a few postcards.

Included in the tour is a visit to the jail and the quarters for the acting sherriff. The sherriff quarters had glimpses of a typical bedroom and kitchen for the late 1800's. My sister went to the jail and she said it was an open room with an iron ball with lots of chains to connect the prisoners to. Outside the jail is caboose used to haul minerals from the mines.

The Mining Heritage Center & 1902 County Jail Museum is top notch!! We spent over an hour touring and didn't even begin to see it all. Being involved in our local Clemenceau Museum I know how much work is. This is by far the best museum we've ever been to. My husband being in the mining industry really enjoyed it. Even the kiddos eight and four loved it!!!! Thank you members and volunteers.

Tried to visit the museum but it was closed. The only small indication was a small notice on one of the building's doors. We tried to call the museum's number to see if they had an outgoing recorded message with more information, but no answering machine and no-one answered. While restaurants and shops in Silverton were open post COVID, doing business carefully with social distancing, mandatory masks, limited capacity and so forth, this museum is closed :((

I think it's a huge miss because tourists could bring some much needed funds, if they were only given a chance. While perusing around the museum's grounds we witnessed other 3 cars stopping by and trying to visit to no avail. I wish I could give them more stars, but I am literally giving them one star each for the two things we were able to visit...the train car from the Durango & Silverton railroad and the grounds we strolled upon.

This museum is deceiving small from the outside. It consists of two buildings that are connected underground and gives the history of mining in the Silverton area with many exhibits of mining equipment, minerals, and life in the early 1900's. You start in the jail and see the cells where they kept the prisoners, than continue to the basement where the mining exhibits are. Soon you are exiting above ground in another building with more mining and early life exhibits. We could have spent several hours in this museum looking s as t all they have on display.
Buy the heritage pass which also gets you into the mayflower mill, and the Old 100 mine, well worth the drive further up the canyon

This museum was absolutely fantastic. The employees were knowledgeable and very nice.

Although we've been to Silverton many times, we somehow missed this fabulous mining museum until today. I couldn't believe how extensive it was. So much better than some museums in much larger cities. Allow at least an hour. I'm not exactly a mining fan (my husband is), but I was extremely impressed.

World-class museum and better than any large museum in major cities for explaining mining. Clearly designed and assembled with exceptional local knowledge. Includes three levels of a mine, complete assay office and lab, blacksmith shop, and extensive collection of mining drills, bits, cores, etc. Great explanations of how all the tools were used. If you take your time and look at everything you leave with a good understanding of how underground mining works. Also a great gem and mineral collection and the jail is pretty fascinating too. Allow two hours minimum. A wonderful, unexpected gem in Silverton!

We have been going to Silverton for years and had never taken the time to go to this museum. What a mistake that was. This is the most impressive museum I have ever been to. The detailed history, the exhibits, the employees, the information is incredible!!'' Take the time, at least 90 minutes, we spent over 2 hours, to wander through, read about the unique history of the town and the mines. You will not be disappointed. We wish we had fine years ago, we will definitely go back.

Such a wonderful place it's beautifully done the kids loved it you could learn so much ! You could walk around for hours looking and not see it all it has old jail stuff things about the mines in the area just such a neat thing to go see !

I didn't have a lot of time while passing through Silverton, but I made a point to stop here. It's much bigger than it looks as a ton of stuff is underground. There is a jail dating back over a century, all kinds of mining artifacts, as well as other historical items from Silverton's past. The woman at the front desk was very friendly and helpful.