others · Platteville
Guided Mine Tour & Train Ride in Platteville, Wisconsin
Explore Wisconsin’s mining heritage with a guided underground tour and scenic train ride in Platteville. Discover history and nature combined in one unforgettable day.
About The Mining & Rollo Jamison Museums
Historic underground tours, seasonal festivals, and hands-on exhibits that bring southwestern Wisconsin mining heritage to life.
The Mining & Rollo Jamison Museums in Platteville, Wisconsin, preserve and interpret the region’s mining and cultural history. The campus centers on the historic 1845 Bevans Lead‑Zinc Mine and Hoist House and features indoor exhibits, outdoor artifacts, and a vintage 1931 Whitcomb mine train used for public rides. The museums offer guided mine tours, private guided mine tours, group tours, school field trip programs aligned with Wisconsin educator standards, and seasonal public events such as Heritage Day, Mine Day, a Haunted Mine Tour, and the Miners Ball fundraiser.
Visitors can purchase museum admission that includes a guided underground mine tour and a scenic train ride across the museum campus. Special experiences include themed fundraisers like Mini Golf at the Museum and tailored educational programs for classrooms. The museums emphasize hands‑on demonstrations, live music at festivals, and interpretive walks such as the Land, Place, and Life: A Driftless Walking Tour that explores local landscape, history, and culture along a trout stream.
The Mining & Rollo Jamison Museums partner with the Friends of the Museums and community volunteers to host events and preserve artifacts. Reservations are required for private guided mine tours and group train rides. Programming is designed for families, school groups, and visitors interested in industrial heritage, geology, and regional culture. The museums provide accessible visitor information about hours, tickets, and special events on their official channels.
Docent-led talks and artifact displays connect mining techniques, immigrant labor history, and regional geology for an educational, engaging visitor experience with exhibits on-site.
“Every outing is organized with local river knowledge, basic safety instruction, and equipment checks before departure.”