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The story of America's westward expansion was characterized by the lawless Wild West, the conflicts with American Indians, steam locomotives, and the gold rushes. But the Western gold rushes of the mid and late 1800s were not the first time gold had been discovered in the United States. The first documented commercial gold found in the United States was found in North Carolina at the Reed Gold Mine.

During the peak of gold mining in North Carolina, gold mining was second only to farming in the number of North Carolinians it employed. But if one is going to California, then take the time to see the oldest gold mine in the state. Learn about the California gold rush at the Old West towns. In North Carolina, check out Reed Gold Mine.

The Story Of The First Gold Mine In The United States

The documented story of gold in the United States started in 1799 when the son of a farmer by the name of Conrad Reed discovered a 17-pound yellow "rock" on the family farm. For three years this odd yellow rock was used as a rather bulky doorstop.

Then, in 1802, a jeweler from Fayetteville realized it was in fact a large gold nugget. He then told Conrad Reed to name his price.

Perhaps Reed thought he was getting a good deal when he named $3.50 — or around a week's worth of income. If he did, he must have been disappointed later when he found it was actually worth around $3,600, around a thousand times the amount.

After this, Conrad's father, John Reed organized the country's first gold mining operation, and they soon found a 28-pound nugget. In 1831, the mining went underground, and John Reed died in 1845 a rich man.

Mining at Reed Gold Mine took a hit during the Civil War, but the operation continued with the last large nugget being found in 1896 and the operation finally came to a halt in 1912.

Related: Canada Once Had Its Own Gold Rush, And The Barkerville Ghost Town Is Proof

What To Expect At The Reed Gold Mine Today

Today the Reed Gold Mine is open to the public and is designated a National Historic Landmark. The site has a museum that has extensive displays of the history of gold mining in North Carolina.

Gold mining spread to nearby counties and then into other southern states. North Carolina led the nation in gold mining until it was eventually eclipsed by California.

Visitors can also explore several hundred feet of some of the restored gold mine tunnels. The tunnels date to the 1830s and there is a reconstructed stamp mill that represents the machinery of the 1890s. The stamp mill is operational and demonstrated every day from April to October.

At the visitor center, people can see exhibits on gold, mining tech, the geology of gold, an orientation film, and more. There are also a few short trails (around 3 miles of trails total) that cross lode and placer mining areas as well as archeological sites.

Related: Cycle New Zealand's Old Ghost Trail: The Ultimate Gold Miner's Trail (& Not For The Faint-Hearted)

Not all the gold mines open to the public are abandoned. At the Old Hundred Gold Mine in Colorado, visitors can see real mining equipment in operation.

Planning A Visit To The Reed Gold Mine

The Reed Gold Mine is open most days of the week (but not Sundays or Mondays). It is a great attraction for families as admission is free (although there is a fee for underground guided tours and a fee for gold panning).

Gold panning is available seasonally between April and October 31 and costs a nominal fee of $3.00 plus tax. Panning is not available during periods of moderate or heavy rain (or if there is thunder and lightning).

  • Address: 9621 Reed Mine Rd, Midland, NC
  • Opening Hours: 9.00 am to 5.00 pm (Tuesday through Saturday)
  • Closed: Sundays and Mondays

While there, take the time to explore the underground mine. Guided tours are available from 9.15 am to 4.00 pm from Tuesdays to Saturdays between January 4th and March 31st.

The fees are also nominal being only $2.00 for adults and $1.00 for kids. The tours last for around 30 to 40 minutes and run on the hour all through the day.

Elsewhere, people can discover the gold rushes around the nation and beyond. In New Zealand, visitors can even discover the days of the gold rush on a vintage train trip. North Carolina might just be the beginning for travelers!