Explore A Silver Mine & Trolley Tour In Wallace

The Sierra Silver Mine, discovered around 1900, was considered rich enough in silver and lead to justify its extraction. In the early years, mining was done by hand. As technology advanced, miners began using power tools to dig trenches, which can be seen upon entering the mine. Despite the classic hallmarks of large silver deposits, the ore yield was minimal. This led to the mine changing hands several times. New owners saw signs of a rich deposit but found only minimal reserves, after which they sold the mine because it was unprofitable. Although ownership changed several times, mining continued uninterrupted until the 1960s, when a drift several hundred feet long was excavated. Unfortunately, the mine's development did not improve conditions. Rather than continue mining, the mine was converted into a laboratory for training local high school students in mining, given the numerous active mines in the area. Soon after this vocational course began, the surrounding mines lost demand for workers, leading to the cancellation of the classes. In 1982, some local residents founded the nonprofit organization Sierra Silver Mine Tours.