The Eagle and High Peak Mine offers underground tours of Julian's original gold mine, one of the richest producers during the gold rush of the 1870s. A guide leads you through a tunnel that stretches about 1,000 feet into the mountain, past original mining equipment, ore veins, and the shafts where gold was extracted by hand for nearly three decades.
The tour covers Julian's mining history in detail — how the gold was found, how the camp grew into a town, and how the rush ended. Gold was indeed discovered here in 1870 by Fred Coleman, a former slave who spotted colour in a creek near the site. The mine operated commercially until 1942. Gold panning demonstrations are included. The mine is on C Street, a short walk from Main Street.