Reed Gold Mine, at 9621 Reed Mine Road, Midland, North Carolina, is a treasure trove of artifacts about a unique part of North Carolina history. It was ground zero for the North Carolina gold rush, and the site of the first gold found in the United States.
Today, Reed Gold Mine is a NC Historic Site and is free to visit. During your visit you can learn about gold, gold mining, and the history of the site, through exhibits and a film. The highlight of the visit is the self-guided tour of the underground mine. In addition, you can pan for gold for a small fee.
At 26 miles from the center of Charlotte (roughly a 45-minute drive) Reed Gold Mine is a great day trip from Charlotte. Learn about other day trips from Charlotte!
History of Reed Gold Mine
In 1799, 12-year-old Conrad Reed found a 17-pound gold nugget while fishing in Little Meadow Creek. He took it home, and his family used it as a doorstop for three years, unaware of what it was. This was the first documented gold find in the United States.
Then, in 1802, Conrad’s father, John Reed, a German immigrant, brought it to a jeweler in Fayetteville, who identified it as gold and bought it from him for $3.50, which is what a farmer could expect to earn in a week. Even in 1802, that was a rip-off. The gold nugget was worth $3,600.
After returning to his farm, John Reed formed a partnership with three neighbors, who supplied equipment and labor to dig for gold in the creek bed that was on Reed’s property. People enslaved by the partners did the work.
Within a year, an enslaved person named Peter found a 28-pound nugget, which was, at the time, the largest one found in the United States. It’s still the largest gold nugget found east of the Mississippi River.
Eventually, Reed started underground mining operations on the property, which started in 1831.
Visiting Reed Gold Mine
It’s free to visit Reed Gold Mine. The property includes a visitor center with exhibits that teach about gold and mining, a short orientation film about the history of the Reed Gold Mine, and a gift shop.
Portions of the underground tunnels are open for self-guided tours. On the tour you can see the structure of the mine, the pathways, and some equipment that was used for drilling and for transporting rocks.
It stays cool in the underground mine year-round, so keep that in mind when planning your visit.
In addition, there are about three miles of walking trails throughout the property.
Gold panning, when available, costs $3. Although the Reed Gold Mine website says that gold panning is available only April through October, it’s actually being held year-round now. If you want to make sure that gold panning will be available during your visit, give them a call at 704-721-4653.
Guided tours of the mine are also available, seasonally, for a small fee.
The published hours of Reed Gold Mine are:
- Tuesday to Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Closed Sunday, Monday and most major holidays
Special Events at Reed Gold Mine
Reed Gold Mine sometimes hosts seasonal events, like a Christmas-time candlelight tour of the mine, trick or treating in the mine, or an Easter egg hunt on the property.
In addition, the property regularly holds programs where Scouts can earn the “Mining in Society” merit badge.
Check the Reed Gold Mine website to see what’s coming up.
Charlotte on the Cheap is a member of 
