The Cave Creek Museum will host its first gold mine tour of the season in conjunction with the Arizona Gold Mining Experience on Nov. 14 and Nov 28.
The first Gold Fever mine tour event will take place an hour after the Experience, which runs from 10-11:15 a.m.. Guests who sign up are presented with a historic view of 1800s artifacts excavated from the Ft. Worth Gold Mine site. This mine was part of the Historic Rackensack Mines, which were instrumental in the founding of Cave Creek.
Guests interested in the gold mine tour pay an additional $155 per person for the three-hour tour (no special senior or child pricing), which starts at 1 p.m. and departs from the museum; participants must be on site by 12:45 p.m. The Gold Fever mine tour helps cover costs for the museum’s Arizona Gold Mining Experience, and reservations for the tour are required.
“The mine tour is an extension of a great day exploring the Cave Creek Mining District,” said JoAnn Stuckey, executive director of the Cave Creek Museum.
The Arizona Gold Mining Experience starts with El Monty Jackson bringing the 1800s to life along with the miners and townsfolk.
The outdoor experience begins with a retelling of Cave Creek’s mining district history.
Guests then move on to demonstrations that showcase the hard rock ore extraction process for which Cave Creek is known for.
Guests then witness the Golden Reef Stamp Mill and Tramway, which is Arizona’s only fully operational ten-stampore crushing mill. The 10, 1,000-pound stamps slam down in synchronized motion to pound ore removed from the mine into fine gravel.
Guests then move on to the blacksmith shop for a demonstration of the skills used when parts and tools had to be fabricated on site.
Finally guests reach the gold panning station, where museum volunteers show guests how to pan for ore and minerals just like the prospectors did.
Admission to the Experience is $20 for adults and children under 12 are free, and Culture Passes are not accepted for this event. Reservations are required for the Arizona Gold Mining Experience. The museum is located at 6140 E. Skyline Dr.
The 56-year-old museum’s mission is to preserve the artifacts of the prehistory, history, culture and legacy of the Cave Creek Mining District and the Cave Creek/Carefree foothills area through education, research, and interpretive exhibits. The museum is open from October through May.
Meet Jeff Jeff Wendt started at Independent Newsmedia in January 2023, after 25 years working for Gannett and The Arizona Republic. Started as a high school sports scoretaker, worked up to reporting high school sports and then became an associate high school sports editor in 2002. Also worked in the Design Studio as a copy editor.
Community: Jeff serves on the Board of Elders at his local church.
Education: Arizona State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication
Random fact: Attended Game 2 of the 2001 World Series.
Hobbies: Playing video games (yes still the kid in me), watching reality TV, playing poker.
By 
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here