Temple Mount Mine Remants - VR Getaway

Temple Mount Mine: A VR Getaway to the World of Madame Curie

This VR Getaway was very inspiring to me because of the powerful history connected to Temple Mount and the incredible Madame Marie Curie. Exploring the remnants of the mine, you can almost feel the presence of the determined scientists and workers who braved this remote landscape. It’s a place where science, history, and rugged nature collide.

Exploring Temple Mount: What to Know

• Location: In the San Rafael Swell, about 3 hours 45 min Southeast of Salt Lake City.
• Cell Service: None. Download offline maps before you go!
• Vehicle: A **High Clearance 4x4 Vehicle** is required to drive the road up to the mine itself. The road has tight turns and steep drop-offs.
• Camping: The main parking area is suitable for camping. There are also excellent tent sites just north of the parking lot if you are willing to hike your gear in.
• Facilities: There are restrooms available at the main parking area.

The Madame Curie Connection

Madame Curie was a woman far beyond her time. Born to two poor school teachers who inspired in her a passion for learning, she embarked on a fascinating journey in chemistry with her husband, extracting radium from uranium ore. After his tragic death, she didn't give up; she pushed harder.

She favored the Temple Mount mine because its uranium ore was highly concentrated. In an amazing feat for the time, she braved the journey and is said to have lived here for a time in the largest of the rock houses at the base of the mount. She was not only an incredible chemist in the 1800s but also the first and only person to win TWO Nobel prizes in two different scientific fields. She discovered radiation as a cancer treatment and developed mobile radiography units for field hospitals.

Sadly, at the time, radium was considered "Nature's Wonder Element," and they did not realize the deadly effects of radiation exposure. After Madame Curie and many mine workers died of radiation poisoning, the mine was closed and sealed shut.

Exploring the Site: The Mine & Rock Houses

The remains of the mine are a fascinating look into a bygone era. As you walk up toward the mine from the parking lot, there is a trail on the left-hand side that winds along the various sealed mine entrances. It's incredible to see how many tunnels they dug into the mountain.

Just north of the parking lot are the famous tiny rock houses. Since wood was so scarce, the mine workers had to use natural rock overhangs and stacked stones to build their homes. Most are barely big enough for a small bed. Search around—I located at least five of them!

One of the many tiny rock houses built at the base of Temple Mount.

2D Trailer of the Experience

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Transport Yourself Here in VR

For the full Virtual Reality Experience, I love to open a bottle of Cypress essential oil, get a nice breeze blowing, curl up in a comfy chair, and transport myself to these amazing places in my Oculus Portfolio. It is a wonderful positive boost from Nature Therapy that helps fight depression and makes you feel happier. Try it out!

Shauna's Adventures on Oculus Creator