Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine

09-06-2025

Gold Fever.

Ok, I will admit it, I will confess I have gold fever! Many years ago, my wife and I took a trip to Denver, Colorado. I had done my research, and one stop on my list was to tour the Denver Mint. The other must-see place to visit was the town of Cripple Creek, and to see the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine, where we signed up for a one-hour tour that takes you 1,000 feet down into the mine. My wife was unsure if this was a wise idea, but we did it anyway.

Gold rush dreams shaped Colorado.

Nothing rivals the excitement of gold fever in the American West. The Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine in Cripple Creek, CO, embodies that history. After the famous California rush, thousands moved again between 1858 and 1861 during the Colorado Gold Rush. Miners sought fortune near Cherry Creek and the South Platte River but soon pushed west into the mountains. By 1859, the mantra “Pikes Peak or Bust” drew nearly 100,000 hopefuls and gave birth to towns like Boulder City and Cripple Creek.

Families chased fortune in the Rockies.

Among those dreamers was the Gortner family from Iowa. Henry and Mollie Gortner, with children Perry and Elizabeth, settled in Colorado Springs. Perry found work surveying new claims near Cripple Creek, including Bob Womack’s Gold King Mine. The area’s name came after a cow broke its leg in the creek—a grim but lasting memory.

Bob Womack struck gold but lost.

Womack searched tirelessly for fifteen years before discovering a rich vein in 1891. However, skeptics doubted his claim because earlier strikes proved false, including one by “Chicken Bill” who had salted his mine. Sadly, Womack sold his claim for $500 and liquor, dying poor despite uncovering one of Colorado’s richest fields.

Mollie Kathleen made her mark.

During a visit to Perry, Mollie ventured uphill after spotting elk and discovered exposed rock laced with gold. She quietly gathered samples and staked a claim in her name. This bold move made her the first woman to discover and own a gold mine in Cripple Creek. Local miners respected her find, though superstition kept them from working underground when she visited.

The mine endured through generations.

After Mollie died in 1917, her husband Henry passed a year later. Perry operated the mine until 1949, preserving its legacy. The Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine eventually transformed into a living museum of America’s mining heritage. It remains the country’s longest continually operated gold mine tour.

Touring reveals harsh miner life.

Visitors descend 1,000 feet underground in a small cage, experiencing the darkness once lit only by three candles per shift. Guides demonstrate tools, blasting methods, and air-powered equipment. Guests learn about silicosis, the “widow maker” drill, and even how donkeys lived and died in the mines. The experience offers both awe and perspective.

Cripple Creek remembers its past.

Today, the town combines history, casinos, and scenic views. Travelers visit the Heritage Center, District Museum, and, of course, the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine. The site captures the courage of pioneers and the enduring allure of gold fever.

Tragedy Strikes.

Sadly, on October 10th, 2024, an accident occurred where the employee running the lift at the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine did not latch the door properly and fell out, dying on the scene. Additionally, four other people were injured, and twelve people were temporarily trapped underground. While this is a horrible accident, and it was deemed an operational, not mechanical error, it remains unclear if the mine will ever reopen for tours.

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