In the spirit of friendly competition, Reed Gold Mine State Historic Site in Midland and the Western Museum of Mining and Industry in Colorado Springs are wagering gold nuggets toward the winner of the golden Super Bowl 50 in Santa Clara, Calif. Charlotte's Carolina Panthers and the Denver Broncos are in cities that were home to U.S. mints, and mints still operate in Denver and San Francisco today.
Each is wagering a gold ore specimen valued between $40 and $50. The Colorado nugget comes from the Hidee Gold Mine near Central City, west of Denver, while the North Carolina nugget is being supplied by Bill Brewer, owner of Carolina Prospectors in Statesville, N.C.
North Carolina and Colorado are connected through the spread of gold discoveries across the United States during the 19th century. North Carolina was the first documented discovery of gold in 1799, while gold was found near present day Denver in 1858. These gold discoveries led to United States Mints being constructed in Charlotte in 1837 and Denver in 1863. While the Charlotte Mint closed in 1861, the Denver Mint was enlarged into the current facility in 1906, and still produces coins today.
The bet, while just a friendly wager, hopefully will allow the two institutions to work together in the future interpreting gold mining in the United States. These museums have similar collections, including an operating 10-stamp mill used to crush rock to extract the gold.
The Western Museum of Mining and Industry began in 1970 as the Museum of the West preserving and interpreting the rich mining history of Colorado and the American West. The nucleus of the collection was a group of mining artifacts contributed to the museum by Mr. & Mrs. Frederick M. Farrar. In 1972 the name was changed to the Western Museum of Mining & Industry.
Over 4,000 artifacts are on display at the 27-acre indoor/outdoor exhibit site, which includes a 10-stamp ore mill and multi-purpose center with exhibits, theater, and an 8,000-volume research library. The entire exhibit complex is an exciting and exceptional tool for learning about Colorado history, mining and industrial technology, geology, and the environment. The museum has been accredited by the American Alliance of Museums since 1979.
Reed Gold Mine in Cabarrus County North Carolina preserves the site of the first documented discovery of gold in the U.S. Restored mine tunnels are shown by interpreters who share the story of the discovery and the work of miners to retrieve gold. Reed Gold Mine State Historic Site further interprets the history of North Carolina's mining heritage through exhibits, special events and off-site presentation.
For additional information, please call (704) 721-4653 or email reed@ncdcr.gov. Reed Gold Mine is located at 9621 Reed Mine Rd., Midland, N.C. and is 12 miles southeast of Concord, 25 miles east of Charlotte and 18 miles west of Albemarle. Reed is part of the Division of State Historic Sites within the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.