Pioneer Mine
Operating from 1888 to 1967
The Pioneer Mine in Ely, MN, is a historic underground iron mine that operated from 1888 to 1967, producing over 41 million tons of ore. As the last underground mine on the Vermilion Range, it now serves as a heritage site, featuring a restored Shaft House, Captain's Dry and Miner's Dry buildings along with a headframe, water tower and radial smokestack, all of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.