By Loren Farrey
From the 1820s through to the 1970s, the mining of lead ore and the later discovery and extensive mining of zinc ore deposits made southwestern Wisconsin an important part of the history and economy of both the territory and state. Although the last mine in the area ceased operations in 1979, only a few boulder piles and remnants remain to show the importance that mining once played in this area. This “Tour Guide to the Mines” by Loren Farrey outlines a self-guided tour past the sites of some of these mines and includes photos and information about the mines and the people who worked in them. Several years in the making, this second edition of a book first published in the 1990s is exclusively available at The Mining & Rollo Jamison Museums. Purchase yours for $19.99 at the Museum Store.