News 11’s Adonis Albright guides us through this so-called “ghost town” that takes you to the heart of the 19th century
YUMA, Arizona (KYMA, KECY) – The Castle Dome Mine Museum in Yuma has been around since 1998 and gives visitors a taste of what it was like in the 19th century. From its rich history to its beautiful landmarks, there is something for everyone.
When you hear the term “ghost town” you usually think of rundown buildings and forgotten objects from the past. But the nonprofit museum’s founder, Allen Armstrong, and his team have come a long way to make sure Castle Dome City is preserved.
From its dozen of buildings, which include several salons, a hotel, a doctor’s office, and more, this museum offers an authentic glimpse into life more than a century ago.
“Castle Dome has been the longest-worked mine in the state and is always coming to life on its own,” said Armstrong.
What made this city flourish in the 19th century, and eventually at one point attracted twice the population of Yuma, was its limitless resources and minerals.
“You got about a million dollars of silver and a million dollars of lead out of here and hundreds of ounces of gold.”
Perhaps the most impressive attraction this museum has to offer: the fluorescent mining walls that line the cave.
“We’re going 650 feet into the earth and we’re seeing the largest fluorescent wall on earth. It’s about 50 feet tall and it’s the most colorful wall too … and it looks like you’re in the multi-colored space nebula and it’s very beautiful. ”
However, that’s not the only thing that’s unique about the mine. The further you go, the more you experience what is known as the “negative gravity anomaly effect”.
“What that means is that the earth’s crust is rising and negating the effects of gravity.”
According to Armstrong, this isn’t just an attraction where you can see all it has to offer in just one day. In addition, the museum plans to start new, additional tours from next season.
More information about the tours the museum has to offer and how to get tickets can be found here.
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