Only in Your State | New Mexico |Juliet White

Did you know that the only uranium mining museum on the planet is in New Mexico? It’s located in the city of Grants, which was once known as the Uranium Capital of the World. There, you can explore a recreated uranium mine.

(For safety reasons, the public isn’t allowed to tour a working uranium mine.)

New Mexico actually has the biggest identified uranium ore reserves in the nation after Wyoming. During the height of the uranium boom, Grants’ population swelled. However, today fewer than 10,000 people live here. Considering the size of the city, the New Mexico Mining Museum is impressive.

Once inside, you descend to the mine in an elevator. Stepping out is like entering a different world – a dark and daunting one.

The equipment is laid out just like it would be in an actual mine. At each station, pause to listen to an audio recording performed by a real miner who tells you exactly what would happen in each work area.

Every effort is taken to ensure authenticity. If possible, take one of the tours. These are led by a retired uranium miner, who breathes life into his descriptions and stories about what it was like to work in these conditions.

Other than the simulated mine, the museum contains a room displaying Native American artifacts that were unearthed during mining operations. Outside, you’ll find large pieces of mining equipment like this head frame.

The Grants mining boom started in 1950 with a Navajo sheepherder named Paddy Martinez. There are several variations on this story, but the gist is that Martinez noticed an unusual type of yellow rock near Haystack Mountain. He shared his discovery with authorities and, when the rock was tested, it turned out to be uranium.

At this mining museum, you don’t just travel underground. The history is shared in a manner that makes you feel as if you’ve also journeyed back through time.

The New Mexico Mining Museum is at 100 Iron Avenue in Grants.

If you’re interested in our state’s mining history, here are some mining towns worth exploring.