 The National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum is the only national mining museum with a federal charter, which was passed in a joint resolution (S.J.Res.192) of the second session of the 100th Congress of the United States of America and approved by President Ronald Reagan on November 14, 1988.The museum was incorporated in 1987, and it was to be built on land owned by the Colorado School of Mines in Golden.As the building was to be built, the town of Leadville was facing hard times.