The Mining & Rollo Jamison Museums – Platteville, Wisconsin - Atlas Obscura

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The Mining & Rollo Jamison Museums

Platteville, Wisconsin

Explore a real 19th-century lead and zinc mine at this immersive series of exhibits. 

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Don a hard hat and experience the temperature drop as you descend the 90 stairs into the underground Bevans Mine, a real lead and zinc mine dating back to 1845. When weather permits, visitors can even ride on a real mine train from 1931, all while learning about how the history of mining shaped the surrounding region.

This immersive museum also features the fascinating one-man collection of folk historian Rollo Jamison, who stockpiled everything from bronze figurines to musical instruments to military uniforms and outfits worn by suffragettes. The place is packed with historical anecdotes and factual tidbits, such as how Wisconsin came to be known as the Badger State.

Know Before You Go

Only open seasonally, May through October. Mine tours depart four times daily and the rest of the museum is self-guided. 

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March 28, 2023

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