In 1828, a deer hunter named Benjamin Parks tripped over a large boulder and discovered a rich vein of gold running through it, and so the gold rush came to Georgia and to the town of Dahlonega. By 1800, all the rocks, streams, and lakes in the area had been emptied of gold, and a group of investors bought 7,000 acres and drilled down to find more.

The mine closed in 1906 when the underground tunnels began to flood, but today safety measures have been taken, and tourists can go 200 feet underground to the inner workings of the upper mine. The trip down involves stairs and is not accessible by wheelchairs. A guided tour lasts forty minutes and includes the opportunity to learn how to pan for gold from experts and to try your own hand at gold panning. The Consolidated Gold Mine has a gift shop selling everything from mining equipment to souvenirs.

Address: 185 Consolidated Gold Mine Road, Dahlonega, GA 30533, Phone: 706-364-8473

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