Mine Hills Preserve

Mine Hills Preserve is a 360-acre archaeological site in Roxbury containing remains of iron ore mining and quarrying operations from the 1800s. The land features blast furnaces, abandoned equipment, and multiple pathways that guide visitors through the former work areas.

The site was converted into an iron smelting operation in 1865 by the Shepaug Spathic Iron and Steel Company, replacing its previous use as common land. Over time the operation expanded to process various ores and extract stone before eventually shutting down.

The mining structures here show how people extracted iron ore in the 1800s using machinery that was advanced for its time. Visitors can see how this workplace was organized and what techniques were employed in daily operations.

Visitors can explore the site via several well-marked trails, including a short loop to the blast furnace and longer routes through the mining areas. The best time to walk these paths is from spring through fall, when trails are dry and vegetation doesn't obscure the historical structures.

The preserve shows evidence of unsuccessful attempts to extract gold and silver that occurred alongside more profitable iron ore and granite quarrying operations. This mix of successful and failed ventures reflects the industrial experimentation of the 1800s.