Sterling Hill Mining Museum
4.7(1.5K)google
4.4(78)yelp
KidsIndoorGuided Tour OnlyGuided TourImmersiveEducationalQuirkyHistoryScienceGeology
Overview
The Sterling Hill Mine, now known as the Sterling Hill Mining Museum, is a former zinc mine in the borough of Ogdensburg in Sussex County, New Jersey, United States. It was the last working underground mine in New Jersey. It closed in 1986, and became a museum in 1989.
Practical Info
Every day10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Suggested Duration2-3.5 hours
Best TimeAn extraordinary year-round all-weather attraction, as the deep historic underground zinc mine naturally stays at a constant 52°F (12°C). To witness its full visual power, booking a 10:00 AM weekend guided tour is critical; step into the subterranean corridors to experience the world-famous 'Rainbow Tunnel' when the ultraviolet industrial lights turn on, illuminating massive rock walls in blazing neon fluorescent colors.
Getting ThereTucked inside the rugged mining hills of Sussex County at 30 Plant St, Ogdensburg. Driven travel via road trip is mandatory given its secluded northern mountain location. Take I-80 West out of Newark, transition north onto Route 15 North, and follow Route 517 North straight into town onto Plant Street. The unique museum operates a massive, free paved parking lot.
Travel Tips
- Entering the subterranean shafts is restricted to guided tours only; the underground temperature is a constant, damp 56°F (13°C) year-round, requiring heavy insulating layers before subterranean descent.
- Foraging in the active fluorescent rock-picking fields is an add-on requiring mandatory personal protective footwear; open-toe sandals, soft canvas shoes, or mesh sneakers are entirely banned.
Photo Tips
Photo Rules
- Subterranean tunnels feature low clearance profiles and localized mineral water dripping; wearing the facility-issued safety hard hat is mandatory, and large standing tripods are banned inside the shafts.
Reviews
Positive
- Stepping deep into the real underground mine rewards you with the glowing green and red 'Rainbow Tunnel' under UV light, an amazing visual impact.
- Houses a world-premier collection of fluorescent minerals and rare gems, acting as an irreplaceable treasure palace for geology buffs and students.
- The veteran miner-led guided tours are highly educational, deeply analyzing industrial mining histories, complex machinery, and workers' real lives.
- Provides a free open-air lot and packs an interactive sluice mining zone letting children manually screen gravel and keep real raw crystals.
Heads up
- For strict safety regulations, self-guided wandering in underground shafts is forbidden; remaining with the tour group is mandatory, offering zero autonomy.
- No matter how hot summer is outside, the underground shafts maintain a constant, damp 56°F; visiting without packing a thick jacket leaves you freezing.
- The paths preserve raw historic heavy industrial terrain with uneven mud and loose gravel, rendering them inaccessible to standard wheelchairs or strollers.
- The location is remote inside the North Jersey mountains with zero transit links; daily tour slots follow a rigid schedule, and walk-ins easily get locked out.