What's Here: Overview
Zobel Exhibit Hall
The Zobel Exhibit Hall contains more than 20,000 mining-related items on display, including equipment used for explosives, moving and crushing ore, mine ventilation, mine lighting, and laboratory study of the ores. Also featured are displays of the local fluorescent minerals, and large mineral samples out in the open, meant to be touched. «More»
Underground Mine
A 1,300-ft underground walking tour through the Sterling Hill mine is a featured part of the tour. Within the mine passages are numerous pieces of equipment used while the mine was in operation, plus exhibits on the mining process. Visitors will see the lamp room, the shaft station, mine galleries dating to the 1830's, and much more. «More»
Outdoor Mining & Art Exhibits
Numerous items of mining-related equipment are scattered about the grounds at Sterling Hill. Here you will see sinking buckets, stamp mills, sheave wheels, crushers, ball mills, drum hoists, compressors, track drills, ore cars, and more. Look around and you will also see bronze sculptures depicting various facets of a miner's life. Visitors are welcome to browse the grounds adjacent to our main parking lot to view these items. «More»
Rock Discovery Center
The Rock Discovery Center is an outdoor area where children learn about the uses of various rock types that are quarried in our region, and then collect a specimen of each rock type to take home with them. Economically important rock types such as coal, slate, marble, and basalt are included in this exercise. «More»
Fossil Discovery Center
New to Sterling Hill, the Fossil Discovery Center helps our young visitors learn about fossils by digging for them in a large sand box and then taking them home. An instructor will be on hand to tell you what the fossils are, when they lived, in what environments they grew, and how they went about their lives. «More»
Thomas S. Warren Museum of Fluorescence
Four rooms totaling nearly 1,800 square feet of exhibit space are devoted to displays of fluorescent minerals, fossils, gemstones, carvings, and everyday objects. The museum includes more than two dozen exhibits, nearly all of which explore some topical theme of fluorescence. A display of antique ultraviolet lights is also on view. «More»
Ellis Astronomical Observatory
Dark skies and powerful telescopes combine at Sterling Hill for members of our Astronomy Group to view the Moon, planets, distant galaxies, and planetary nebulae in the comfort of a covered observatory dome. On hand are a 20-inch reflector telescope, a 12.5-inch reflector, and a Hydrogen-Alpha telescope for viewing the Sun. «More»
Collections & Archives
The Sterling Hill Mining Museum maintains collections of mining equipment, mining artifacts, laboratory and assay equipment, ores, minerals, mining-related art, and presentation memorabilia of the New Jersey Zinc Company. We also house a library and an archive of historic mining maps. «More»
Historic Mine Structures
Nearly all of the buildings that were in use while the mine was in production have been kept in good repair and are either part of the museum or are slated for incorporation into the museum in the future. Times of construction of these buildings, plus the headframe and conveyor system (pictured) range from 1913 to 1958. «More»
Gift Shop & Snack Bar
The gift shop is stocked with inexpensive items for children and teachers, including a large selection of minerals and rocks priced at $3 or less. We also offer jewelry, books, mining memorabilia, and a selection of ultraviolet lamps. The adjacent snack bar and tables are provided for the convenience of our visitors. «More»
