Christ of the Mines Shrine
Carrara marble statue of Christ overlooks town of Silverton
Christ of the Mines Shrine
✟ Christian (Catholic) | Silverton, CO
Situated at the base of Anvil Mountain, at an elevation of over 9,300 feet, this impressive 16-foot statue of Jesus overlooks the historic mining town of Silverton, Colorado.
The statue was conceived in 1958 by the Catholic Men’s Club of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church under the leadership of Fr. Joseph Halloran. After selecting the site, they collected donations from Silverton’s citizens. Local stonemasons built the base and grotto with local stone. The statue itself consists of 12 tons of Italian Carrara marble, the same source as Michelangelo’s David. The figure of Jesus is depicted with outstretched arms, the Most Sacred Heart upon his breast and the crown of thorns at his feet.
The full structure was completed in 1959 and dedicated. The top plaque affixed to the base reads:
This shrine erected in honor of CHRIST OF THE MINES by the people of Silverton to ask God’s blessing on the mining industry of the San Juans 1958-1959
In 1978, a seeming miracle occurred. On June 4 that year, high in the mountains above Silverton, Lake Emma breached and flooded the caverns of the Sunnyside Mine. The water pressure was so intense that it shot mining equipment out of the portals and into the air. But June 4 was a Sunday—the miners were not at work. Not a single life was lost. In 1982, a new plaque was added to the base of the statue to commemorate the miracle:
In thanksgiving to Christ of the Mines for deliverance of entire work force when Lake Emma flooded Sunnyside Mine June 4 (Sunday, mine closed) 1978
St. Patrick Centennial
August 15, 1982
The shrine can be found on 15th Street / Scenic Drive in Silverton, a short drive along a smooth dirt road east of State Hwy 550 (the “Million Dollar Highway”) and then a brief hike up a steep hill.
A metal offering box, with three crosses on its hinged top, is located nearby, where pilgrims and visitors leave offerings, prayers, and devotional objects. Note also the shamrock, a symbol of St. Patrick.
Sources: Lynn Arave, Deseret News | Atlas Obscura | Catholic Travel Guide | Linda Wommack, Colorado’s Historic Churches (2019), pp.125-26 (incorrectly calling it “Christ of the Mountains Shrine” and differing with other sources on the height (“twelve feet”) and weight (“five tons”)).
Visit date: July 24, 2024.
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