The Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine is a historic vertical shaft mine near Cripple Creek, Colorado, United States. The mine shaft descends 1000 ft into the mountain, a depth roughly equal to the height of the Empire State Building in New York City. The mine currently gives tours, and is visited by around 40,000 people annually. The addition of the mines and subsequent tours of this mine and others in the area had considerable effect on the economies of both Victor and Cripple Creek.

History

The mine was started in 1891 on a mining claim staked by Mollie Kathleen Gortner, after whom the mine was named. Other than a government-ordered hiatus during World War II, the mine operated continuously until 1961; since then, it has continued as a tourist attraction. On Thursday, October 10, 2024, during a tour, the elevator malfunctioned, killing one tour guide, injuring four, and leaving twelve others trapped underground—eleven tourists and a mine worker. Eleven others were rescued. Authorities hoped to repair the elevator but had a fire department crew ready for a rescue operation. All twelve people were evacuated via the elevator on Thursday evening.