Castle Dome City: A Mini-Road Trip From Yuma, AZ
Ms. Karen & I had visited Yuma right after Christmas 2016. We discovered so much to see and do that we looked forward to returning in late March 2017. Our first day found us an hour north of Yuma, off a dirt road near the Yuma Proving Grounds; at Castle Dome Mine Museum. We were supposed to meet Allen Armstrong, the man who collected these old buildings and the artifacts within. We never caught up with him.
Lorraine, however, was behind the counter at the entrance and she was very helpful. She explained that the buildings were set to be destroyed as an eyesore, so Allen disassembled them, brought them to this land that he purchased and reassembled them into the new old ghost town of Castle Dome.
Watch this slideshow to see some of the highlights.
You might want to watch it full frame.
The mines in the Castle Dome Mining District produced silver mixed with lead. The process to separate them was costly. There is a separate short hike you can take to see remaining shafts from the Hull Mine, a few restored buildings and the cemetery.
Castle Dome City is mostly flat and easy walking. Wheelchairs however will have some difficulty.
Castle Dome City once had a population bigger than Yuma and the District had more than 300 mines.
Some of these buildings date from the late 19th century and came from the local mining district to be assembled here, creating a museum honoring Arizona’s mining history. Each of these buildings is furnished with period pieces collected from a variety of places; donated by organizations and individuals to create a unique experience. It is truly a labor of love.
The last mine in the district closed in the 1970’s when the price of silver dropped below the cost to mine and process it.
Many of these old buildings contain artifacts from the late 19th and early 20th century.
It is our understanding that the Three Stamp Mill has been restored and will be operational in the winter between 2017-20. There are also plans are to open the Hull Mine for underground tours next year. We will have to go back for that.
The Yuma Visitors Bureau offers tours to the Mine Museum seasonally. You can find out more about Yuma Visitor Bureau Tours here. Here is the website to Castle Dome Mine Museum. They are open October – April ,7-days a week and you will need to call if you would like to visit between May and September. It gets quite hot. Currently it is $10 for Adults, and $5 for children over 7.
Do we recommend Castle Dome Mine Museum? Indeed we do!