Home > Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park

The town of Berlin sprung up in 1896 when substantial gold veins were discovered nearby. In total, the Berlin mine produced 42,000 ounces of gold, all removed from underground tunnels by hard rock mining techniques. The mine became unprofitable by 1911, and the town of Berlin became uninhabited shortly thereafter.

Today the ore mill still stands, and the stamps and mercury float tables can be viewed. Several additional buildings are extant along with headworks on some of the mine shafts. Guided mine tours are provided by park personnel, which proceed approximately 500 feet into a tunnel that connects with the Berlin mine. All other access to the underground works is prohibited and considered extremely dangerous.

Ichthyosaur fossils were first discovered in the area in 1928. Excavations were conducted through the 1960's, and the remains of approximatly 40 Ichthyosaurs were found. These remains include the largest Ichthyosaurs ever discovered. Several specimens were left in-situ, and can be viewed by the public. These specimens are protected from the elements by a large barn.