Soudan Underground Mine State Park is one of the oldest and deepest iron ore mines in the United States. The only iron ore mine in the world open to visitors. This mine is over 100 years old. First opening in 1883 and producing iron ore until it was closed and donated to the state of Minnesota by US Steel Corp in 1963. Today its mining operations have been discontinued but a small caged elevator takes visitors 2,341 feet or about a half mile below the surface for a 1 1/2 hour tour of this once active mine. On the 27th level visitors are escorted to a small rail car to tour the tunnel while park officials describe stories of the mining days. Aboveground visitors can explore the drill shop, dry house, and crusher house and hike through the hardwood conifer forest.