Jerome, Arizona: Straddle a 1900-Foot-Deep Hole

The Jerome visitor's center has a lot of historic relics and a large mineral gallery. The friendly staff can direct you to the hole, but be careful. You might get a little woozy looking down that 1,900-foot-deep shaft!

The Audrey head frame is said to be the largest and oldest wooden mining structure in Arizona. Standing on the ground next to the head frame is a metal miners cage, once used to lower men into the mine. It now begs to be the background for a photo op.

But for us the most interesting attraction in the park is the Audrey Shaft. Sadly, it became obvious while we were there how easily visitors can overlook the shaft. We watched several groups come in, examine the artifacts, and begin to leave until we directed their attention to it. Beneath the Audrey head frame is a small metal shack with a glass floor. It sits atop the old Audrey Shaft, which descends into the earth 1900 feet, 650 feet deeper than the Empire State Building is tall! Subtle lighting inside the concrete-lined shaft allows the adventurous to stand on the glass floor and peer down -- as in way, way down -- into the abyss. Kind of like a mini Grand Canyon Skywalk.