I was disappointed to find out this wasn't the Climax Mine near Leadville. Other people's photos in Google Earth confirmed it. The Climax Mine was the world's largest molybdenum mine. Before 1965, it was the highest inhabited city in the U.S. before the mine grew so large it moved the residents down the road to Leadville. It also had the highest post office and railroad station in the country.

But, this mine is much smaller near Monarch Pass. The Madonna mine produced zinc, lead and silver. Info on it was pretty sketchy.