Members: ToXiC & Brute
Pictures by: ToXiC

History -

The Bureau of Mines was first created as the Federal Department of Mines in 1896. The conservation movement at that time envisioned a federal role in helping the Nation use its mineral resources responsibly. Concern over the waste of both human and natural resources was reflected in the President's 1907 recommendation that a U.S. Bureau of Mines be established in the Interior Department.

Congress, however, did not act on this until a series of disasters in the Nation's coal mines had focused public attention on the loss of human life. These disasters took more than 3,000 lives in 1907 alone. On May 16, 1910, Congress passed the Organic Act (Public Law 179) establishing the agency known as the U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM). The USBM became functional on July 1, 1910. The USBM's scope of responsibility was extended in 1913 by an amendment to the Organic Act (Public Law 386). This amended act added significantly to the duties, which included the following functions:

• To conduct inquiries and scientific and technologic investigations concerning mining and the preparation, treatment, and utilization of mineral substances with a view to improving health conditions, and increasing safety, efficiency, economic development, and conserving resources through the prevention of waste in the mining, quarrying, metallurgical, and other mineral industries.


• To inquire into the economic conditions affecting these industries.


• To investigate the mineral fuels and unfinished mineral products belonging to or for the use of the United States, on behalf of the Government, with a view to their most efficient mining, preparation, and use, and


• To disseminate information concerning these subjects.

The Minneapolis Bureau of Mines campus was constructed in the late 1950' and early 1960' with a $1.5M appropriation from Congress from the then Senator Hubert Humphrey. Prior to ownership of the Minneapolis site by the Bureau of Mines, the property was originally part of a larger parcel owned by the Veteran' Administration (VA). In 1949 the VA agreed to transfer 43 acres of its land to the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines to build the Twin Cities Research Campus and the 81st Congress in 1951 authorized the land transfer. In the 1960' the Bureau of Mines conveyed the eastern portion of this 43 acre-tract to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to provide for an addition to Ft. Snelling State Park.

The Center developed significant mine safety equipment and mining solutions used worldwide from the 1960' until the facility closed in 1995.

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The Exploration -

We initially had passed up BoM on a number of occasions looking for a drain down past the dog park in the Ft. Snelling area. We thought the first few times the building was in use due to a total lack of Vandalism.

(Above: 2 Pics of the Fuel Laboratories)

At some point Me & Brute decided "Screw it, I dont see any No Trespassing Postings, let's check it out". As we slipped in a "back door" to the property, we noticed how in great condition the place was from the exterior but at the same time how the outside lawn was very neglected. We then knew this was abandoned.

(Left: Brute & Diesel Fuel. Not a good match)
(Right: Interior Front Hallway shot)

At first we tried some of the doors. No success. Its usually not that easy. We then tried some awesome matrix ninja moves and combined with our knowledge of uber urban exploring magic we obtained entrance. If you believed that you're weird.

I entered first considering if there was security inside, it would be much easier for me to slip out the window again rather than having Brute try doing ariel acrobatics. After hearing some noise I carefully checked to see what it was, just roof damage leaking in water, then I said "Alright, lets do it". Brute entered.

(Left: Main Entrance & Greeting Room)
(Right: At the time, a disabled Security System, and is now active)

We began exploring the West side of the building starting from the ground up. I was really happy considering I had brought along my new camera and was eager to fuck around with it. Minus the water damage, the building at the time of exploration was in pristine condition minus some weather damage and a couple tags.

After exploring the West side we decided to go and check out the East end which was mainly Labs, Quality Testing Zones and office areas. We initially walked towards the front door, being careful to lookout for people when in that area we noticed an alarm system. I moved to check it out and make sure it was Set or Sending a break in signal. Nope. Our luck for the day was pristine. The alarm was se to idle/disconnect. Parts of the NE and SE power still worked which made some parts of the building, especially the basement, quite interesting.

(Left: Cafeteria)
(Right: Boiler Room)

Exploring the 3rd floor of the East side we hit the Computer Server area if the building and jeez, my dad wasnt kidding when he said years back computer used to be big blocks of plastic crap. We had alot of fun in that room looking at technology a decade old which happened to be the initial start of modern computers. Weird.

After exploring above ground we decided it would be fun to check out the basement. We went down into the pitch black and I mean it was pitch black! A couple rooms still had active power which made it easier to find your way around. In one instance I nearly hit my head on an 8" Diameter Pipe of some kind when my light was looking at somthing on the floor. That would have hurt.

(Above: Maintenance & Utilities Rooms Shots)

We started roaming towards the SE side of the basement and again we found another Security Panel. Same signal. Dead. We then proceeded to end the trip since our Meter was about to end and we didnt feel like paying a Meter Ticket.

We left out the same way, shut the window and headed to the back door of the property. Walked past the old Minefield and back to the car. I feel like Subway!

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Trip #2

Members: Brute, AquaSlayer, JuGGs
Written by: Brute.

Well the night before I had a dream about going to B.O.M. it didn't go well in the dream basically in the dream everything that could go wrong did and the people I went with hadnt helped any. In the dream the alarm wasn't on but the people I went with in the dream kinda some how turned it on.

so the next day I pick everyone up and we decided to go there. I knew it was a bad idea but what the hell. We got in fast and found we werent the only ones there so we avoided the other people there. We went towards the front door area, as we got closer, the alarm was beeping like the last time I had been there but aquaslayer got paranoid, so I told him it was ok and I would show him. So we went down the hall to the alarm and this is what confused me, it said something different then the other times.

It said "Satellite uplink complete sending help" this was new to me and i thought it would be best if we made our escape now, as we rounded the corner a police car pulls up... I tell them lights out and to follow me though the dark. We get to the other room with the other alarm thing and it says something than the other, "Requesting Back up, Please send reinforcements" so now im like "shit", and im gonna take a chance and just run to the woods and hope there still looking in the other areas in the front...

We made it and split up and i told them I would go and get my car and pick them up down the road. as i get my car I see a ticket on it from park patrol cause they decided to rush in and I forgot the meter, so I get and drive up just to see what I could from the road and I see 3 cars all with dogs in one car was the other people that where in there, so I got out of there and picked AquaSlayer and JuGGs up and told them of what I saw and then we saw the cop drive by with the two in it.