The Three Kids Mine is a defunct open-pit manganese mine in Henderson, Nevada, United States which operated from 1917 to 1961. The abandoned mine—located near Nevada State Route 564 just south of the Lake Las Vegas neighborhood—now stands popularly used as a location for graffiti art and is planned for redevelopment to a residential area as of 2023.[1]
 Three Kids Mine viewed from the north | |
| Location | |
|---|---|
  Three Kids Mine Location in Nevada | |
| Location | Henderson, Nevada, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 36°04′57″N 114°54′50″W / 36.08248°N 114.91388°W |
| Production | |
| Products | Manganese[1] |
| Type | Open-pit[1] |
| Greatest depth | Roughly 300 feet (91 m)[2] |
| History | |
| Opened | 1917 |
| Active | 1917—1961[1] |
| Closed | 1961 |
| Owner | |
| Company | City of Henderson |
| Year of acquisition | 2014[3] |
History edit
Operations edit
In 1917, three men—B.R. Jefferson, B. Edwards, and J. Marrs—discovered a manganese deposit with a high concentration of 20% to 40%.[4] Coinciding with World War I, open-pit mining operations began at the mine the same year, supplying the United States military with manganese for military equipment such as steel combat helmets. As the war ended in 1918, demand for manganese decreased significantly and the mine remained almost dormant for two decades until World War II reignited the demand for the component. A mill for processing manganese at the site of the mine was constructed in 1942 to help meet the demand for the ore. However, the decline in war activity in the following years once again resulted in limited activity from the mine and the mill was closed in 1944. Mass-production from the mine restarted in 1951 when the on-site mill was remodeled and reopened.[1] Production of manganese at the site continued for a decade until the pits were exhausted and the Three Kids Mine subsequently closed permanently in 1961. The remaining lead and manganese reserves were sold over the following years and parcels of land from the property were sold and redeveloped in the 1980s.[1]
Reclamation and redevelopment of the mine edit
On February 13, 2013, Rep. Joe Heck (R-NV) introduced the Three Kids Mine Remediation and Reclamation Act (H.R. 697), which would direct the United States Department of the Interior to convey 948 specified acres of federal land at the Three Kids Mine site to the Henderson Redevelopment Agency of Henderson, Nevada for environmental remediation and mine reclamation. The bill was passed by the House of Representatives on July 22, 2013. The bill was received by the Senate and was passed by unanimous consent on July 9, 2014. President Barack Obama signed the bill into law on July 25, 2014.[3]
On November 21, 2023, the Henderson City Council voted 4–0 to approve the proposal for Pulte Homes to build 3,000 homes on the mine site with a park capping the pits.[5] The site's soil, currently contaminated with the residues of manganese as well as lead, arsenic, and petroleum identified in a 2007 environmental site assessment,[1] will be used to fill the pits; cleanup of the site is planned to begin in the summer of 2024.[6][7]
Graffiti edit
The thickener pits of the mill at the abandoned Three Kids Mine site remain painted with graffiti, the most notable artwork being the Wheel of Misfortune. Created in 2012 by an artist known by the alias Aware of the collective Indecline—who breached security over the span of three days to complete the artwork, the mural resembles a prize wheel reminiscent of one from the game show Wheel of Fortune, with "prizes" listed on the wheel including "$000", "Lose a Home", "Lose a Job", and "Lose All Hope".[8] The mural was cleaned and resprayed in 2023.[9]
In popular culture edit
A pit at the Three Kids Mine was used for filming in 1988 science-fiction film Cherry 2000.[2]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f g "Three Kids Mine". Nevada Division of Environmental Protection. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
- ^ a b "Three Kids Mine". Raise The Stakes Project. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
- ^ a b "Actions Overview: H.R.697 — 113th Congress (2013-2014)". United States Congress. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
- ^ Park, Ji Hye (December 2011). "Environmental impact of the Three Kids Mine tailings, Henderson, NV". University of Nevada, Las Vegas Digital Libraries. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
- ^ Credico, Mark (22 November 2023). "3,000 homes to be built on top of old mine site in Henderson". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
- ^ Langeler, John (20 November 2023). "Three Kids Mine site cleanup set to begin in 2024 as vote nears on plan for 3,000 homes". Channel 8 News. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
- ^ Garcia, Abel (29 November 2023). "Henderson City Council approves turning 106-year-old mine into 3,000 home community". KTNV-TV. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
- ^ Roeben, Scott (26 November 2016). "Wheel of Misfortune is a Quirky Las Vegas Discovery". Vital Vegas at Casino.org. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
- ^ Hillier, Billie (10 July 2019). "Wheel of Misfortune in Henderson NV". Southwest Explorers. Retrieved 30 November 2023.