Toburn Gold Mine

Kirkland Lake in northeastern Ontario, Canadad has a rich gold mining history. Founded in 1911 as a mining camp, its notoriety is particular tied to the famed Mile of Gold on which 7 major gold mines resided. Toburn Gold Mine was the first of those, then known as the Tough-Oakes Gold Mine, and still remains in the north end of town.

The Toburn Gold Mine is not a museum or underground mine tour. I supposed monument is the best description. Five mine buildings are found on the site and create a self-guided tour for gold history bugs. The Compressor House includes a motion-activated video display sharing history of the mine. For the real rock nerds in your pack, 22 rock samples can be found on site including ores and other rocks found in the region.

This part of Ontario is admittedly remote. A three and a half hour drive yet north of Sudbury is not exactly on the beaten path. But if you’re in the region, be sure to check out Toburn Gold Mine if only as a pit stop on your way through the sprawling heart of Canada’s central mining region.