The American Eagle Mines equipment in the Cripple Creek & Victor Mining District has been preserved as a display for all to see on Little Grouse Mountain Trail. The equipment is now located on a hill across from the mine near Rita the Rock Planter. It is located along the Golden Loop Drive trails and there are several other equipment and mine sites nearby for viewing.
The historic American Eagle Mine was famous for being not only the district’s highest mine, but the deepest as well. At an altitude over 10,570 feet above sea level and 1,540 feet deep by 1902, it’s a major part of the history of the mining district.
Winfield Scott Stratton was a carpenter who explored the area and bought the American Eagles in 1895 after making his riches above Victor when he discovered the Independence Lode near Victor on July 4th 1891. He envisioned the massive gold deposits to be shaped like a wine goblet. He believed that the surface ore stemmed underground from an extinct volcano that created a bowl of gold. Unfortunately he passed away in 1902 before he had the chance to find the bowl of gold. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Colorado Springs. That cemetery is one I still need to visit although I have driven by it numerous times.
The mine consisted of 3 shafts and reached the maximum depth in 1902. The equipment on display includes a blacksmith shop, office,hoist and very large headframe. The interactive display is a great way to get up close to the reality that the equipment really is, large and stout. Standing below the 60 foot headframe really makes you realize how large they are. The hoist wheels were easily 8 feet in diameter. There is a variety of more modern and historic mining techniques.
An article from the area states that little is known about the actual production since Stratton’s mines were all privately held. After his death, his estate held the mine. Production was off and on until 1940 for the American Eagles and it shut down then for good. Other mining operations are still in use today.
Newmont mining moved the equipment for display after closing the tours of the original mine in 2016 for safety reasons. It was previously in the middle of the Cresson Surface gold mine. The expansion of the mine would leave the tourists and the massive mining trucks sharing roads. Newmont decided eventually to move the equipment to the new location on Little Grouse Mountain. It was a major operation to relocate the site safely. At the time of the article for the closing of the tourist site, they were hoping for a location with views and hoped to move it quickly. I believe they made it happen within a year or two. Rita the Rock Planter has brought many to the new site in the last few years.
Get out and explore Colorado!
Not Forgotten Colorado 
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