The McCaw School of Mines is built on the campus of the Gordon McCaw Elementary School. It started out as a papier-mâché model of a mine tunnel built into the corner of a classroom. Teacher Janet Bremer and others were instructing a course on Nevada Mining and felt the model would give fourth grade students more of an idea of what it was really like to be in a mine.

Shortly thereafter the Gordon McCaw Elementary School staff met, discussed the idea, and then decided to “think big”. As a result, in 1996 the McCaw School of Mines became a 4,500 square foot reality at the Gordon McCaw Elementary School in Henderson, Nevada. Built along the same lines as the Indiana Jones exhibit at Disneyland, it is the only simulated mine of its kind in the state of Nevada. In 2000, the Visitor’s Center was added to the site.

The McCaw School of Mines represents a million plus dollar project built entirely from donations, with no cost to the Clark County School District. The McCaw School of Mines Foundation was formed to provide for the continuing development, operation and maintenance of the McCaw School of Mines. The Foundation provides free transportation for students from throughout the region to visit the mine.

School tour dates are available from October through May.  Private tours are available for small groups throughout the year. Call the office at 799-3546 for details.

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