by Vicki Hood
vhood@guernseygazette.com
SUNRISE—What do archaeology and iron ore have in common? You might be surprised! If you’ve missed it in the past, June 22nd is the day to save for the next tour of the Paleoindian Red Ochre Mine and the historic Sunrise Mine property.
The dress is very casual, you don’t need a reservation and it’s a walk through history like no other you’ll find in the country. The gates open at 11 a.m., the cost is $20 for those 19 and over (18 and under are free.) Lunch will be available on site for a fee (no credit cards please) and the three-hour tour leaves at 1 p.m. Please wear comfortable old shoes as the red soil will stain them.

Join property owner John Voight for a three-hour history adventure to the mine sites where the Colorado Fuel and Iron company town of Sunrise once thrived. The area was rich with iron ore and over its 80-year operation, over 40 million tons were produced. The company town of Sunrise became home to hundreds of families over the years the mine was open, complete with a K-12 school and a YMCA. The mine closed in 1980 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.
But that’s only half the story.
Learn how a very much “by-chance” event literally saved the Red Ochre site, one of the most outstanding archaeological sites ever found. It is a true story that will leave you shaking your head in amazement.
Red ochre is a natural iron oxide pigment made from hematite. Found worldwide and known by man clear back to Paleolithic time (350,000 BC), it was used for everything from body paint to medicine to cave paintings and more. But the real treasure at the site were the artifacts that were found dating back to the Paleoindian period, roughly 13,000 to 10,000 years ago.
Don’t miss this opportunity to hear the story and see the sites that make the area’s history so outstanding.
This particular tour is a benefit for the Sunrise Historic and Prehistoric Preservation Society (SHAPPS) established locally to promote and preserve the area’s rich history.
For more information, you may call 307-331-8810.