Sterling Hill Mining Museum, Former zinc mine and geological museum in Ogdensburg, New Jersey, US.
Sterling Hill Mining Museum is a former zinc mine with extensive underground tunnel systems in New Jersey. The site contains multiple kilometers of passages that descend into the earth, revealing the geological layers that miners encountered while extracting minerals.
Mining operations began in the 1600s when early settlers mistakenly believed they had found copper but discovered zinc instead, which became the primary product. The site operated continuously for many generations as a major production center in the region.
The site reflects how mining shaped the community and the skills passed down through generations of workers who extracted minerals from deep underground. Visitors can sense the rhythm of labor that defined this place for centuries.
The underground passages maintain a cool, constant temperature year-round, so visitors should bring warm clothing regardless of the season outside. Walking underground requires comfortable shoes and attention to the path ahead.
The Rainbow Tunnel displays minerals that glow in vivid colors when exposed to ultraviolet light, creating an unexpected visual spectacle underground. These fluorescent stones formed naturally within the earth alongside the zinc deposits.
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