Tonopah Historic Mining Park, Nevada
Museum with a major rail exhibitOpen daily 9 am to 5 pm; closed federal and state holidays
The Tonopah Historic Mining Park covers more than 100 acres of the original silver claims that made Tonopah the Queen of the Silver Camps, with restored mine buildings, historic equipment and an underground tunnel open to visitors.
- Site of the 1900 silver strike
- More than 100 acres
- Underground Burro Tunnel
- Free visitor center and movie
- Guided Polaris tours
- Dog friendly on leash
Tonopah Historic Mining Park at a glance
- Hours
- Daily 9 am to 5 pm; closed federal and state holidays
- Admission
- Visitor center and movie free; walking tour gate fee $5 adults, $3 seniors 60+, ages 8 to 17 and Nevadans, free ages 7 and under and military and veterans
- Train rides
- Guided Polaris (ATV) tours by reservation, $12 for one person down to $7 each for five
- Plan for
- About 2 hours; Polaris tours run about 2 hours
- Best for
- Road-tripping families and mining history fans
- Best ages
- Ages 5 and up
- Accessibility
- Polaris tours are free for visitors with disabilities.
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Contact and directions
- Address110 Burro Avenue, Tonopah, NV 89049(opens in a new tab)
- Phone(775) 482-9274
- Emailtonopahminingpark@gmail.com
- Websitetonopahminingpark.com(opens in a new tab)
Follow Tonopah Historic Mining Park
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Taking the kids to Tonopah Historic Mining Park? Bring Rally along.
In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Tonopah.
Rally Takes the Train
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A runaway burro and the Queen of the Silver Camps
As the park tells it, Jim Butler was camped near Tonopah Springs in the spring of 1900 when his burro wandered off. Chasing it, he picked up a rock to throw and found promising ore instead. Back home in Belmont he showed the samples to a young attorney, Tasker Oddie, whose chemistry teacher friend in Austin assayed it at more than $200 a ton. Belle Butler pushed her husband to go back, and he filed eight claims and dug out several tons of ore.
Getting that ore to market was the first transportation puzzle of the new camp. For a quarter share, Wilse Brougher hauled it by horse and wagon to Austin, where it went by rail to Salt Lake City for smelting. The first shipment cleared $500, which paid for more equipment. Short on capital, the Butlers leased claims by the foot on a handshake, giving each lessee 75 percent of the profits, and the idea spread to other districts. Railroads followed the boom: the Tonopah and Goldfield Railroad was formed in 1905 to link Mina, Tonopah and Goldfield and carry ore and supplies.
The Butlers later sold to a Philadelphia financier who formed the Tonopah Mining Co., and Oddie formed the Tonopah Belmont Development Company. The district produced more than five million tons of ore. Today the Tonopah Historic Mining Park Foundation, a Nevada nonprofit, preserves portions of four of the original major mining companies on the site, and restoration of the buildings continues.
Headframes, a mineral glow and a walk underground
Start at the free visitor center, which has a gift shop, historic mining equipment, a mineral collection, a small theater with a video presentation and a black light mineral display recently expanded with short-wave ultraviolet lights. From there a self-guided walking tour leads across the grounds, where most buildings are open to visitors, including areas tied to the Mizpah, the Silver Top and the Desert Queen.
The headline experience is the Burro Tunnel, an underground walk down a mine tunnel that meets one of the original discovery stopes. At the end, you step into a steel viewing cage and look down a stope about 500 feet deep. For a wider look, guided Polaris (ATV) tours cover the park by reservation. New exhibits are added often, so ask staff what has changed, including any displays about the railroads that served the camp.
Don’t miss
- The Burro TunnelWalk underground to one of the original discovery stopes and look down about 500 feet from a steel viewing cage.
- Black light mineral displayNewly expanded with short-wave ultraviolet lights that make the minerals glow in bright colors.
- The Mizpah, Silver Top and Desert QueenStops on the park map tied to the original mining companies whose buildings and equipment you can explore.
- Guided Polaris tourA reserved ATV tour, with gate fee included, for families who want to cover more of the 100-plus acres.
- John Livermore MedallionA two-ounce silver medallion honoring park friend John Livermore (1918 to 2013), sold in the gift shop.
Glowing rocks, a dark tunnel and room to roam
Kids 7 and under get in free, and the visitor center and movie are free for everyone, so a quick stop costs little. The black light minerals are an easy hit with young children, and older kids who like a little adventure will want the Burro Tunnel and the look down the deep stope from the viewing cage. The park warns the tunnel is not for the faint of heart, so judge your own kids.
Most of the park is outdoors across open, uneven ground, with drop-offs and old mine workings, so keep little ones close. Dogs are welcome on a leash, which helps families on a road trip. Overnight camping is not allowed.
Plan your visit: tips for Tonopah Historic Mining Park
- Reserve Polaris tours ahead by calling (775) 482-9274 ext 6; space is limited.
- Groups should call at least 48 hours before visiting.
- Bring a leash: dogs are welcome but must stay leashed.
- Wear sturdy shoes for uneven ground and the underground tunnel.
- Download the walking tour brochure from the park's website before you go.
The foundation that keeps the mines standing
The Tonopah Historic Mining Park Foundation, a Nevada 501(c)(3) nonprofit guided by a Board of Trustees, runs the park and keeps restoring its buildings. Members receive news of the park and town plus local history pieces, and memberships can be paid online or by mail. Gift shop purchases, such as the John Livermore Medallion, and donations also support the work.
Rail stops across the California line
The closest rail museum on our list is the Laws Railroad Museum and Historic Site near Bishop, California, about 76 miles away. Farther on, the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad is about 139 miles off. To plan a Nevada rail trip, see every train museum in Nevada.
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
At the end of the tunnel here, visitors step into a steel cage and look straight down a deep mine stope. It is the opposite of the view in our book, where Rally gazes out an arched window at the ocean and says hello to a white bird. Kids find wonder looking out and looking down. My mom loved that sense of wonder, and it is all through the story she dreamed up. Read about her on our story page.
Free for train families
Print the Rally coloring pages before you go
Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.
Get the free coloring pages
A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.
Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)More for train families
- Train museums in Nevada: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Nevada
- Halloween train rides in Nevada
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Tonopah Historic Mining Park?
We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.
Sources
- Tonopah Historic Mining Park official website(opens in a new tab)
- Tonopah Historic Mining Park on Facebook(opens in a new tab)
- Tonopah Historic Mining Park on Instagram(opens in a new tab)
- Tonopah Historic Mining Park on Tripadvisor(opens in a new tab)
Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.
Tonopah Historic Mining Park: 20 questions for your visit
Where is the Tonopah Historic Mining Park?
The park is at 110 Burro Avenue in Tonopah, Nevada 89049, on the site of the original 1900 mining claims that started the Tonopah rush. Its mailing address is P.O. Box 965, Tonopah, NV 89049. Call (775) 482-9274, extension 6, for directions or visit questions.
What are the Tonopah Historic Mining Park hours?
As of October 2026, the park is open seven days a week from 9 am to 5 pm. It is closed on all federal and state holidays. Groups of any size are welcome but should call (775) 482-9274, extension 6, at least 48 hours before the visit.
How much does the Tonopah Historic Mining Park cost?
As of October 2026, the visitor center and movie are free. The self-guided walking tour gate fee is $5 for adults and $3 for seniors 60 and older, children 8 to 17 and Nevadans. Children 7 and under and active military and veterans get in free. School groups pay $1 per child.
Does the Tonopah Historic Mining Park have railroad exhibits?
The park focuses on mining, with restored buildings, historic mining equipment and a mineral collection. Its website does not list specific railroad equipment, so if rail history is your main reason to visit, call (775) 482-9274, extension 6, to ask what is on display. The camp's story is tied to the railroads that hauled its ore.
How did Tonopah ore reach the railroad?
In the earliest days, Wilse Brougher hauled the ore by horse and wagon to Austin, where it was loaded onto rail cars for Salt Lake City and smelted. That first shipment netted $500. Later, the Tonopah and Goldfield Railroad, formed in 1905, linked Mina, Tonopah and Goldfield to move ore and supplies.
What is the Burro Tunnel at the Tonopah Mining Park?
The Burro Tunnel, called the Underground Adventure, is a walk down a mine tunnel that meets one of the original discovery stopes. At the end, visitors step into a steel viewing cage and look down a stope about 500 feet deep. The park says it is not for the faint of heart.
What are the Guided Polaris Tours at the Tonopah Mining Park?
They are guided ATV tours of the park that include the gate fee. As of October 2026, prices are $12 for one person, $20 for two, $27 for three, $32 for four and $35 for five, and free for visitors with disabilities. Reservations are required, so call (775) 482-9274, extension 6.
How long does a visit to the Tonopah Historic Mining Park take?
Plan on about two hours for the visitor center, movie and self-guided walking tour, more if you linger in the buildings or the Burro Tunnel. A guided Polaris tour runs about two hours on its own, so allow half a day if you book one.
Is the Tonopah Historic Mining Park dog friendly?
Yes. The park says it is family and dog friendly. Keep your dog on a leash at all times and pick up after it. Because there are old mine workings and drop-offs on the grounds, keeping pets close is important for their safety too.
Is the Tonopah Historic Mining Park good for kids?
Yes, especially for kids who like rocks and adventure. Children 7 and under get in free, the black light mineral display glows in bright colors, and older kids can walk the Burro Tunnel. The grounds have drop-offs and uneven ground, so keep young children close.
Can you camp at the Tonopah Historic Mining Park?
No. The park does not allow overnight stays or camping on the property, even though it jokes that camping there would be quite an experience. Plan to stay in town or at a campground elsewhere and visit during open hours, 9 am to 5 pm.
What is in the Tonopah Mining Park visitor center?
The visitor center has a gift shop, historic mining equipment, a mineral display and a small theater showing a video about the park. Its black light mineral display was recently expanded with short-wave ultraviolet lights. Entry to the visitor center and the movie is free.
Who discovered silver in Tonopah?
Jim Butler found the first promising ore in the spring of 1900 while chasing his runaway burro near Tonopah Springs. Attorney Tasker Oddie arranged an assay, which valued the ore at more than $200 a ton, and Belle Butler urged her husband to return and file eight claims.
Why is Tonopah called the Queen of the Silver Camps?
The 1900 strike on the park's site launched a rush that brought Tonopah national fame. Mines in the district produced more than five million tons of ore, and the park says many processing methods developed there still influence mining today. The park preserves parts of four original major mining companies.
Does the Tonopah Mining Park welcome school groups?
Yes. As of October 2026, school groups pay $1 per child for the gate fee, and chaperones get in free. Call (775) 482-9274, extension 6, at least 48 hours ahead to schedule. Contact park staff about rates for other types of groups.
Is the Tonopah Historic Mining Park accessible?
Guided Polaris tours are free for visitors with disabilities, which is the easiest way to see more of the 100-acre grounds. The walking tour crosses outdoor, uneven terrain and the tunnel goes underground. Call (775) 482-9274, extension 6, to ask about access before you go.
Does the Tonopah Mining Park have a gift shop?
Yes, the gift shop is in the visitor center. One special item is the John Livermore Medallion, a two-ounce silver medallion honoring the life of John Livermore (1918 to 2013), a friend of the park. Shop purchases help the foundation preserve the site.
Who runs the Tonopah Historic Mining Park?
The Tonopah Historic Mining Park Foundation, a Nevada 501(c)(3) nonprofit overseen by a Board of Trustees, runs the park. Its purpose is to preserve Nevada's mining history and heritage. The park is a member of the Nevada Museums Association.
How can I support the Tonopah Historic Mining Park?
Become a member of the Tonopah Historic Mining Park Foundation, which brings you news of the park and town plus local history pieces. You can pay online or mail a check with the membership form to P.O. Box 965, Tonopah, NV 89049. Donations may be tax deductible.
What railroad museums are near Tonopah?
The Laws Railroad Museum and Historic Site near Bishop, California is about 76 miles from Tonopah, the closest rail museum on our list. The Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad at Fish Camp, California is about 139 miles away. Our Nevada state page lists rail sites around the state.
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