Broken Boot Gold Mine

The Broken Boot was a REAL gold mine!

In 1878 Olaf Seim and James Nelson came to the Black Hills and dug into the mountain just outside of Deadwood. It became known as "Seim's Mine and produced about 15,000 ounces of gold for the two young owners - over 26 years! It wasn't much. They found a great deal of iron pyrite (also known as fool's gold). Fortunately, iron pyrite was in high demand since it could be used to make sulfuric acid - which was used in the processing of real gold. They made more money from mining fool's gold than they did real gold.

Eventually the mine closed in 1904. It reopened for a short time in 1917 to once again mine iron and sulfur needed for gunpowder during World War I. With the end of the war the mine closed in 1918. It wasn't until 36-years later when a group of Deadwood business men approached Seim's daugher and asked if the mine could be opened once again as a tourist attraction. She agreed. During the renovations they discovered an old, broken boot among other long-forgotten items in a back chamber of the mine. This boot provided the inspiration to rename the mine!

The Broken Boot has been giving tours to visitors ever since.

Discover more of the history HERE!