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Summary
St. John Mine
Highway 133, Potosi, Grant County
Native Americans worked the natural cave that became St. John's Mine before Wisconsin's Lead Rush. The mine received its name from Willis St. John, who was one of the first permanent settlers in the area and helped develop the mile deep mine.
St. John began mining in the 1820s. His success in mining attracted others to the area in search of similar fortune and contributed to the growth of the local community. However, St. John's fortune crumbled with the failure of the bank that housed his capital and he was forced to sell the mine in 1848.
By the year 1870, the mine was stripped of virtually all resources and was closed. In 1969 the land was purchased and turned into a museum. The site is currently closed.
Property Details
Resources Within The Property
Designations
State & National Registers of Historic Places
The State Register and National Register recognize buildings, sites, districts, structures, and objects that are significant in national, state, or local history. The State Historic Preservation Office in conjunction with the National Park Service maintains the list for Wisconsin and makes the data available to the public for research and education.
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Email UsAttribution
For a credit line: Wisconsin Historical Society, Creator, Title, Unique Identifier.
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.5 mi. SW of jct. of STH 133 and CTH U
96001532
Located in Potosi, Grant County
Adam Schumacher
circa 1900
Head and shoulders portrait of Adam Schumacher (1859-1942). His family operated the Potosi Brewery until it closed in 1972.
312 South Third Street
12000521
Located in Evansville, Rock County
