tour colorado school of mines

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Schedule your in-person or virtual experience today.

Start Your Mines Journey Today

Choosing a college is a big decision. We’re here to help.

We invite you to visit us in Golden and see all that Colorado School of Mines has to offer! Visiting campus and connecting with our staff is one of the best ways to learn if Mines is the right place for you.

Ready to visit?

We can’t wait to connect with you, #FutureOredigger! Visit our registration portal to plan your visit experience today.

IN-PERSON VISITS

Preview days, accepted student events, self-guided tour, getting here.

Mines is located in Golden, Colorado, only 15 miles west of downtown Denver.

The city of Golden, in the foothills of the Rockies, is a thriving community of 17,000, offering a small-town atmosphere and convenient access to world-class outdoor destinations for skiing, hiking, climbing and mountain biking as well as big-city attractions with close proximity to Denver.

Colorado School of Mines has some big-name neighbors in Golden, including the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a frequent research collaborator, and Coors Brewing Company.

History buff? You can learn more about the history of Mines in Mines Magazine .

Office Hours & Info

Starzer welcome center.

1812 Illinois St. Golden, CO 80401

Advanced registration is required for the majority of our campus visit opportunities. Self-guided tour materials are always available at the Starzer Welcome Center!

If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Office of Admissions regarding visit opportunities.

Undergraduate Admissions Phone: (303) 384-2027 Email: [email protected]

Graduate Admissions Phone: (303) 273-3247 Email: [email protected]

Office Hours

Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Mountain Time Major holidays excepted. Hours subject to change depending on events happening on campus, meetings, and staff travel schedules.

Experience Colorado School of Mines

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Wellness Resources

Colorado school of mines students take top spot at 2024 international mining games.

A team of Colorado School of Mines students won the women’s division of the 2024 International Mining Games hosted at Montana Technological University.

Colorado School of Mines celebrates 90th Engineering Days 

Set for April 11-13, E-Days is one of the most anticipated student events of the academic year. This year is no different as Mines celebrates its 150th anniversary.

Colorado School of Mines, Chevron announce partnership for Global Energy Future Initiative

Photos: mines celebrates entrepreneurship with opening of beck venture center, ice-cored hills in the arctic could help us detect water on other planets.

Colorado School of Mines

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Colorado School of Mines is one of the nation’s top public STEM universities founded in 1874 to provide the engineers and scientists needed to power the emerging industrial age. Today, Mines students continue to earn future-focused degrees in programs such as quantum engineering, space resources and quantitative biosciences, as well as world-renowned mechanical, electrical, and mining engineering programs, among many others. With iconic outdoor spaces to the west and downtown Denver just 15 minutes east of campus, Mines students enjoy some of the state’s most celebrated recreational areas and unparalleled job and internship opportunities.

Student Stories from Colorado School of Mines

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Edgar Experimental Mine

The mountains above Idaho Springs and the nearby communities of Black Hawk, Central City and Georgetown show the abandoned mine openings and remnants of a romantic past: the “Rush to the Rockies” and feverish mining for silver and gold.

The Edgar mine, the Colorado School of Mines Experimental Mine, is a contemporary to that era. In the 1870s, it produced high-grade silver, gold, lead and copper. Today, as an underground laboratory for future engineers, it produces valuable experience for those who are being trained to find, develop, and process the world’s natural resources.

The Mines Mining Engineering Department is proud of the Edgar Experimental Mine and the purposes it serves: educational tours for the public and school groups; cooperation with industry, state, and federal organizations in research; and training of the manpower needed to maintain the nation’s leadership in the field of mineral engineering. Industry is highly supportive of the research and educational programs at the mine. In fact, most of the equipment used at the mine is donated by individual businesses and corporations.

A Special Thank You

We extend a special thank you to the FreePort-McMoRan Foundation for their generous donation of $1 million to fund infrastructure rehabilitation. This is the largest single gift in the history of the Edgar Experimental Mine and will help keep the facility current now and into the future. A complete removal and upgrade of the underground power, water and air distribution system was done. The new electrical installation allows for versatility in equipment use and location underground, facilitating a wider range of research and educational opportunity for students, researchers and users at Colorado School of Mines.

An Underground Classroom

• Incident Command for Mine/Underground emergencies
• Comprehensive Mine and Underground Search and Rescue
• Computer rescue simulation training
• General Heavy Lifting and Rescue using air bags
• Confined space rescue training
• Rope rescue training
• Mine firefighting

Courses can be conducted either on-site at the Edgar Mine or at mine sites anywhere within the United States. For more information or to schedule mine rescue training, please visit the Western Mining Training Center page .

The Mining Engineering Department collaborates with the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety to conduct Mine Emergency Response Development exercises, mine rescue contests, and other training. More information regarding the state of Colorado’s training programs is available at their website .

Help the Mine Grow

Below are conceptual drawings of new facilities planned for the Edgar Experimental Mine. If you would like to play a part in the ambitious goal of bringing the Edgar Experimental Mine facilities into the 21st century, please contact Matt Schreiner at 303-567-2911 or [email protected] .

At mine entry level, the facility will incorporate the current out-buildings into a consolidated structure.  This building will consist of staff offices, conference room, command center, researcher offices, graduate student cubicles, lunch room, men’s and women’s dry and restrooms.

This building will replace the existing school house near the mine property entrance on 8th Avenue. This structure will include mine rescue offices, classroom, benching lab, events space, conference room, kitchen, and student cubicles.

Students and staff conduct guided tours, by appointment, for the general public throughout the year. Tours cover one-half mile of underground workings representing over 100 years of mine development and generally last one hour, but can be tailored to accommodate some special requests. Displays show drilling, blasting and mucking equipment; topics include mining practice, mining economics and the industry’s role in modern society.

The mine is usually relatively dry and a constant 54 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. Hard hats are provided, but guests are asked to wear warm clothing and sturdy walking shoes. The mine is not wheelchair-accessible.

• $25 for adults
• $15 for children 12 and under
• Large groups, organizations and schools should call for pricing and scheduling

*Prices are subject to change.

Edgar Experimental Mine 365 8th Avenue, PO Box 1184 Idaho Springs, CO 80452 303-567-2911

Idaho Springs is approximately 40 miles west of Denver. It can be reached by Interstate 70 or US 6.

From Denver:

• Take I-70 W toward Idaho Springs
• Take exit number 240, turn right (north) at the top of the exit ramp, proceed 2 blocks to Colorado Boulevard
• Turn left (west) onto Colorado Boulevard, proceed to 8th Avenue
• Turn right (north) onto 8th Avenue
• The mine is at the top of the hill.

Mine Foreman: Clinton Dattel, [email protected] Mine Manager: Lee Fronapfel, [email protected]

In 2024, the year of our 150th anniversary, we will celebrate Colorado School of Mines’ past, present and possibilities. By celebrating and supporting the Campaign for MINES@150 you will help elevate Mines to be an accessible, top-of-mind and first-choice for students, faculty, staff, recruiters and other external partners. The Mining department’s goals for Mines@150 include upgrading facilities, scholarships, and continuing to build on student experiences both in the classroom and out in the field. When you give, you are ensuring Mines becomes even more distinctive and highly sought-after by future students, alumni, industry, and government partners over the next 150 years. We look forward to celebrating Mines’ sesquicentennial with you and recognizing the key role you play in making the MINES@150 vision a reality through your investments of time, talent and treasure. Give now

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Mechanical Engineering

Online me masters non-thesis, now available.

Mines ME is hiring faculty! Apply now

Mechanical engineering by the numbers.

1,769 undergraduate students

238 master’s and PhD students

$76,500 2023 average starting salary for BSME graduates

$12.5 million awarded research in fiscal year 2023

$83,400 2023 average starting salary for MSME graduates

#2 in return-on-investment for low income students

76.4% undergrads who complete internships

#1 Public University in CO (U.S. News & World Report, 2022)

14th ASEE 2021-2022 Top Bachelor’s Awarded in ME

Student Highlights

Edikan Udofia’s early professional years at the Aiteo Group showed him to the dynamic energy challenges of the African continent.  ...

Alaina Clar: "The Mines student community has diverse passions, and you can always find an outlet for them."

Christine Yee: "If someone is interested in coming to Mines I would tell them that this school is a rewarding and challenging experience."

see more student highlights »

Undergraduate program, graduate program, faculty & research highlights.

• Mines researcher playing key role in $15M NSF Integrative Movement Sciences Institute

The Mines Mechanical Engineering (FIRE) Program

• Colorado School of Mines, Arapahoe Community College selected for Battery Workforce Challenge

CFCC Cranks 10 kW Carbon Free

Mechanical Engineering’s Andrew Jones Places 2nd in the Fall Undergraduate Research Symposium Poster

See more department highlights », me research.

Want to learn more about Mechanical Engineering at Mines?

Department Head

Anthony Petrella

Associate Department Head

Daniel Blood

Director of Undergraduate Studies

Director of Undergraduate Studies – ME

Steven DeCaluwe

Director of Graduate Studies

Director of Graduate Studies – ME

QUICK LINKS

Undergraduate Info Graduate Program Research Divisions Machine Shop  Student Organizations Industry Partners Mechanical Mondays ME Seminar Schedule Department News Give to ME

Solidworks (Required ME Software)

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GENERAL INFORMATION

GRADUATE PROGRAMS

CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS for Working Professionals

AEROSPACE MINOR

Department Newsletter

• Two Mines students named Koerner Family Foundation Fellows
• Solid oxide fuel cell at Colorado Fuel Cell Center now helping to power Mines campus
• Mechanical engineering PhD wins Rath Award at Fall 2023 Graduate Commencement
• Mines faculty, students work on technology that could "change space travel forever"
• Tabares-Velasco awarded two DOE grants for work toward energy efficiency at any income level
• Mines researchers get $2M from NASA to advance technology for extracting aluminum from lunar soil
• Mines, Lunar Outpost test lunar excavation rover in 15-day durability demonstration
• Ask the expert: How do hydrogen electrolyzers work?

What can Mechanical@Mines do for you?

• Challenging undergraduate opportunities
• Cutting-edge research
• One-of-a-kind graduate programs
• Pioneering faculty
• Nationally ranked return on investment
• A home that's Golden

In 2024, the year of our 150th anniversary, we will celebrate Colorado School of Mines’ past, present and possibilities. By celebrating and supporting the Campaign for MINES@150 you will help elevate Mines to be an accessible, top-of-mind and first-choice for students, faculty, staff, recruiters and other external partners. When you give, you are ensuring Mines becomes even more distinctive and highly sought-after by future students, alumni, industry, and government partners over the next 150 years. We look forward to celebrating Mines’ sesquicentennial with you and recognizing the key role you play in making the MINES@150 vision a reality through your investments of time, talent and treasure. Give now

• Directories

Colorado School of Mines, Chevron announce partnership for Global Energy Future Initiative

Mines Global Energy Future Initiative Vice President John Bradford contributes to an article about a new partnership between the Colorado School of Mines and Chevron to support the Mines Global Energy Future Initiative.  Through this partnership, Chevron will sponsor research projects and participate in steering committees and working groups, adding industry expertise to solve complex problems related to the energy transition. April 8, 2024.

PHOTOS: Mines celebrates entrepreneurship with opening of Beck Venture Center

Mines President Paul C. Johnson addresses the crowd gathered outside the Beck Venture Center on April 4 for the grand opening of the new entrepreneurship-focused facility. Hundreds of people attended the ribbon cutting and Third Annual Mines Entrepreneurship Showcase. (Photos by Agata Bogucka/Colorado School of Mines)

Read more about the Beck Venture Center grand opening on Mines Newsroom >>

Agata Bogucka

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Colorado School of Mines celebrates 90th Engineering Days 

Beck Venture Center opens on Colorado School of Mines campus

CoorsTek, Coors family extend Mines research fellowship through 2032

Geophysics Students Win Research and Knowledge Competitions

Apr 10, 2024 | SP24Newsletter

Geophysics students won top honors for research and knowledge this spring.

Among the contenders, four teams emerged from Mines and University of Colorado-Boulder, setting the stage for a spirited contest. The initial round served as a warm-up, engaging the audience and hinting at the challenging nature of the multiple-choice questions to come. Through three successive rounds, competition was fierce, with the scores remaining tight. However, as the contest progressed, Pablo Chang Huang and Ethan Deal, Mines Geophysics seniors, managed to pull ahead, ultimately taking the victory in the Challenge Bowl. They are now looking forward to representing Mines at the larger geophysics challenge bowl at the IMAGE conference jointly sponsored by the American Association of Petroleum Engineers and Society of Exploration Geophysicists’ this August in Houston, TX.

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Parking Lot FF Permanently Closing Starting April 15, 2024

On Monday, 4/15/24, we will be permanently closing parking lot FF on 19th St.  The new Residence Hall VII project will need to consume this lot as the site work continues.

Please remember as with any construction site, follow all directions from safety personnel, and always use caution when around any construction site.

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Giving Back to Our Communities

Apr 9, 2024 | News

The first of its kind, student-led “McLovin’ Service and Gratitude Initiative” officially launched this spring! Our events and activities included: workshops to create beautiful watercolor art cards with professional artist, Janet Nunn, which were then filled with messages of gratitude and delivered across campus; we invited students to contribute to a Mines mural full of life and color; and, finally, we hosted a fundraiser full of music from student groups, art and auction items from Mines and Golden contributors, cupcakes, cheese, lemonade, and spring timey goodness. We raised over $2,500 for homeless youth for the non-profit org, Urban Peak!

Our vision is a world where service and gratitude become integral to daily life, creating a positive ripple effect and building a compassionate local and global community. We have only just begun…

Watch CBS News

Rescheduled Aerosmith Denver tour date to happen this fall

By Jesse Sarles

Updated on: April 11, 2024 / 4:58 PM MDT / CBS Colorado

Fans of the band Aerosmith in Colorado have been patiently waiting for the classic rockers to bring their tour to Denver. This week they learned they'll only have to wait about 7 more months.

Last fall's concert that was supposed to happen at Ball Arena was postponed with no reschedule date announced at the time.

This week singer Steven Tyler, guitarist Joe Perry and their rocking bandmates announced that the Ball Arena concert in will finally happen on Nov. 18.

The ticket purchases of fans who previously bought tickets to the Denver tour stop will be honored at the new concert.

This tour is called the Peace Out tour, and The Black Crowes will be the opening act for all of the tour dates. Tickets can be purchased on aerosmith.com .

In the past 5 years Aerosmith has been forced to call of or postpone some of its concerts because Tyler has had issues with damaged vocal cords and also at one point had to enter a substance abuse treatment program .

Jesse Sarles manages the content and operations for CBSColorado.com. He writes articles about Colorado news and sports in and around the Denver area . Meet the news team or contact CBS News Colorado .

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