Grand Canyon National Park in Coconino County, Arizona — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Orphan Mine
Grand Canyon
— National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior —
Photographed By Denise Boose, December 9, 2016
1. Orphan Mine Marker
Inscription.
Orphan Mine. Grand Canyon. Something unexpected once stood on the rim in front of you. A steel headframe towered over a mineshaft that dropped 1,500 feet (460 m) to one of the richest uranium mines in the United States. From 1956 to 1969, miners extracted ton after ton of uranium ore from this 20-acre (8 ha) claim.
The mine goes back to 1891, when Dan Hogan-an orphan-discovered copper here. Hogan built a daring trail to his Orphan Mine Lode 1,000 feet (330 m) below you. He gave up mining in 1936 and built a lodge and trading post on the rim, which, in 1947, became Grand Canyon Inn. Business quickly changed when uranium ore was confirmed here in 1951.
I gazed in wonderment at a mine existing at the very rim of the Grand Canyon. , Maurice Castagne, 1958-1969 Mine Superintendent
Something unexpected once stood on the rim in front of you. A steel headframe towered over a mineshaft that dropped 1,500 feet (460 m) to one of the richest uranium mines in the United States. From 1956 to 1969, miners extracted ton after ton of uranium ore from this 20-acre (8 ha) claim.
The mine goes back to 1891, when Dan Hogan-an orphan-discovered copper here. Hogan built a daring trail to his Orphan Mine Lode 1,000 feet (330 m) below you. He gave up mining in 1936 and built a lodge and trading post on the rim, which, in 1947, became Grand Canyon Inn. Business quickly changed when uranium ore was confirmed here in 1951.
I gazed in wonderment at a mine existing at the very rim of the Grand Canyon. Maurice Castagne, 1958-1969 Mine Superintendent
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1956.
Location. 36° 4.359′ N, 112° 9.108′ W. Marker is in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, in Coconino County. Marker is on Hermits Road, on the right when traveling east. Located at Powell's Point. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Hermits Road, Grand Canyon AZ 86023, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this
The Hummingbird Trail to Dan Hogan's Orphane Mine, 1913
Photographed By Denise Boose, December 9, 2016
4. Orphan Mine Marker
Rim view with steel headframe over mineshaft, 1978
Photographed By Denise Boose, December 9, 2016
5. Orphan Mine Marker
The uranium mine tunnel on the left, Dan Hogan's copper mine on the right.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 2, 2019. It was originally submitted on October 7, 2017, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. This page has been viewed 482 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on October 7, 2017, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
