Arizona Gold Mining Experience: 1800s stone crusher

Tom Kelley, engine expert and volunteer for the Arizona Gold Mining Experience (AZGME), brings history to visitors through his work in ensuring the museum’s stamp mill can properly crush ore like it did more than 100 years ago. 1800s stone crusher plays key role in keeping Arizona’s only working stamp mill alive and impressive Arizona Gold Mining. Experience at the Cave Creek Museum open to the public November 9, 2024.

Kelley has volunteered his time and talent to the museum for more than 15 years. Because, along with his appreciation for Arizona and Cave Creek history, he yearns to learn everyday. Kelley has worked with all of the machinery in the popular experience and is versed on the crusher, which breaks down quartzite rock into small pieces for final crushing into sand. The stamp mill’s crusher is located on the historic 1800s Golden Reef Stamp Mill and Tramway, Arizona’s only fully operational ten-stamp ore crushing mill. The 10, 1,000-lb. stamps slam down in synchronized motion to pound ore removed from the mine into fine gravel. The stamp mill was brought from its former location at the Golden Reef Mine on Continental Mountain to Cave Creek Museum, which has the only fully operational mining stamp mill in its original mining district in Arizona. The stamp mill caught fire in 1913 and was left on the mountain to be discovered by a museum “dream team” member with extensive mining and stamp mill experience.

According to Kelley, a former horse trainer, breeder and Arabian equestrian expert, the crusher is the intermediate step in the ore crushing process. It breaks quartz chunks into two-inch, and smaller rocks, which are sent into the feeder to be pulverized by the 1870s stamp mill.

“We must preserve this important history for people who want to learn and for our children,” says Kelley. “I first got into mining in 1975 with a friend and we spent years exploring and learning about the equipment that was used. As for the museum’s Arizona Gold Mining Experience, where else can you find big toys like this to play with?”

Kelley says the museum’s volunteer camaraderie is amazing and the people who work with him are a joy to be around.

“Just as importantly, you learn so many different skills and can work with other skilled professionals to figure out solutions to challenging issues. And, we always are looking for volunteers for the dream team and to become certified millmen.”

On Saturday, November 9, 2024, Cave Creek Museum will showcase its exciting Arizona Gold Mining Experience. This multi-pronged, interactive experience features the experience’s historical significance, a mine shaft that “explodes” with sights and sounds, a tramway that transports ore, the incredible, historic 10-stamp mill and gold panning skills at the “Long Tom” sluice (a water channel that can be controlled by a gate or lock, or an open channel, and which processes material).

The Arizona Gold Mining Experience opens at 9 AM for check-in and information about the experience before the experience begins at 10 AM. Guests must reserve their tickets in advance as it is a very popular attraction and capacity is limited. Reserve tickets online at cavecreekmuseum.org as there is a limit. Visitors, who should plan on coming early, can check in at 9 AM. Culture passes are not accepted for this event. Groups and home school groups are requested to contact the museum office to schedule for special arrangements on another date. Following the Arizona Gold Mining Experience, guests interested in the gold mine tour pay an additional $145 per person for the three-hour tour (no special senior or child pricing), which starts at 1 PM and departs from the museum; participants must be onsite by 12:45 PM. The Gold Fever mine tour helps cover costs for the museum’s Arizona Gold Mining Experience (which is held the second Saturday of each month). Reservations are required.

The 54-year-old museum’s 501(c) (3)’s mission is to preserve the artifacts of the prehistory, history, culture and legacy of the Cave Creek Mining District and the Cave Creek/Carefree foothills area through education, research, and interpretive exhibits. The Cave Creek Museum is located at 6140 E. Skyline Drive in Cave Creek, Ariz., 480.488.2764. Open October through May.