Missouri Mines State Historic Site
Approx. Time: 1 hoursActivity Level: Easiest
Located within the eastern Ozarks is an area known as the Old Lead Belt. This area was the nation's major source of lead metal for more than 60 years; it is part of the great Southeast Missouri lead district, the premier lead mining district of the world.
Serious small-scale mining for lead began in Southeast Missouri about 1720. A large demand for lead in the late 19th century brought major corporate enterprises to the Old Lead Belt. More than 1,000 miles of abandoned multilevel mine tunnels, with 300 miles of underground mainline railroad tracks are testimony to 108 years of persistent mining operations in this area.
Photo courtesy of Missouri Historic Sites
