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In the early 1800s, you could hardly cross North Carolina without falling into a gold mine. During our gold rush – the nation’s first – many industrious men made fortunes in North Carolina.
Today, you can visit the gold mine where it all began, and go to gem mines that give you hands-on experience with our state’s mineral resources and history.
1 Reed Gold Mine
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1 Reed Gold Mine
MidlandSee on map
In 1799, 12-year-old Conrad Reed made the first documented gold find in the US at a spot between Charlotte and Albemarle. He spied something shiny in Little Meadow Creek, dug up what turned out to be a 17-pound rock, and started using it as a doorstop. His father sold the rock to a Fayetteville jeweler in 1802 for $3.50, when it was probably worth thousands more. Today, the Reed Gold Mine is a state historic site where you can experience gold fever yourself. A visitors center contains exhibits of gold and historical mining equipment. You can watch a film about the first gold discovery, tour a restored ore-crushing stamp mill and even pan for gold.
2 Emerald Village
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2 Emerald Village
Little SwitzerlandSee on mapDiscover literal hidden gems within some of the 12 historic mines located just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Tour Bon Ami Mine (home of the NC Mining Museum), pan for gold and embark on a Black Light Mine Tour on select evenings.
3 Sugar Creek Gem Mine
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3 Sugar Creek Gem Mine
Banner ElkSee on mapLocated at the base of Sugar Mountain Resort, Sugar Creek Gem Mine offers a unique opportunity to not only mine your own precious and semi-precious gemstones (guaranteed in every bucket!), but to then have those gemstones cut and set into jewelry on-site. With state-of-the-art lapidary equipment and a helpful staff who can help pick gems best-suited for cutting, this experience is the total package. Reservations are recommended, and Sugar Creek is open year-round, rain or shine.
4 Museum of North Carolina Minerals
4 Museum of North Carolina Minerals
Spruce PineSee on mapThis scenic museum is located on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Gillespie Gap, an important stop for Revolutionary War fighters on their way to the Battle of Kings Mountain. It features interactive displays about the minerals and gems found in the region and the historical importance of the mining industry to the local economy. The museum also hosts a visitors center for the Mitchell County Chamber of Commerce.
5 Chimney Rock Gemstone Mine
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5 Chimney Rock Gemstone Mine
Chimney RockSee on mapFamily bonding happens over buckets of mine dirt that you’ll sift through to discover treasures at this flume mining operation. You may discover a few local stones as well as colorful souvenirs from Morocco, India or South America.
6 Gem and Mineral Museum
6 Gem and Mineral Museum
FranklinSee on mapLocated in the old Macon County jail, this folksy museum welcomes families and school groups to eight rooms of gems and minerals from all over the world. It’s run by the Gem and Mineral Society of Franklin and is staffed entirely by volunteers.
7 Doc's Rocks Gem Mine
7 Doc's Rocks Gem Mine
Blowing RockSee on mapSit at the flume and sift through a bucket of ore from local mines to see what treasures are buried in it – maybe rubies, sapphires or fossils. Or go on a rock-hound tour and pan by a river or stream.
8 Emerald Hollow Mine
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8 Emerald Hollow Mine
HiddeniteSee on mapThe Wizard of Oz had his Emerald City, but North Carolina has the real thing. Deep in the Brushy Mountains about 20 minutes northwest of Statesville is the little town of Hiddenite. Many of the world’s largest emeralds, including the million-dollar "Carolina Queen," have been found right here, and one emerald mine in Hiddenite is actually open to the public for amateur prospecting. Some valuable gem-quality stones have been found, but the Emerald Hollow Mine’s biggest treasure is its mother lode of inexpensive family-friendly outdoor fun.
9 Lucky Strike Gold and Gem Mine
9 Lucky Strike Gold and Gem Mine
MarionSee on mapAt this old commercial mining site, pan for gold in the same stream that prospectors swarmed in the early 1800s. Or screen a bucket of ore for garnets, amethysts, topaz, rose quartz and other gems.
10 Asheville Museum of Science
10 Asheville Museum of Science
AshevilleSee on mapLocated in the heart of downtown, this great museum brings the Earth alive with interactive, hands-on exhibits on geology, plate tectonics, meteorology and the history of mining in western North Carolina.
Searching for more hidden gems around the state? Check out the 2024 Official North Carolina Travel Guide, featuring a gold mine of options.
Gary Thompson contributed to this story.
