The Historic Silver Mine (Polish: Zabytkowa Kopalnia Srebra) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (since 2017) in Tarnowskie Góry, Silesia, Poland.

First generation of miners came here mainly from Franconia (from the areas of Ansbach and Bayreuth ruled by the Hohenzollern family of which the Duke George was a member) and were mostly German-speaking.

In 17th century miners started to work at greater depths which created problems with water flooding the mine – the draining methods were not very efficient then.

Tarnowskie Góry was plundered by various armies (including Polish irregular cavalry troops, the Lisowczyks), and the cost of destruction and contributions had to be paid by the inhabitants.

After nine months of intensive work, on July 16, 1784, rich lead and silver ore deposit was found at a depth of 18 m in Rudolphine shaft.

Thanks to steam engines, digging of the draining adit was also possible which finally led to removing the water from the mine without help of any additional devices.

[3] Researchers, scientists and history enthusiasts started to explore vast chambers and corridors left by miners more than 20 years ago.

[3] In the 1950s a group of history enthusiasts founded Tarnowskie Góry Land Lovers Association, their main goal was to open a tourist route.

Black Trout Adit - a part of the drainage system - was opened in 1957 and for decades was the longest underground boat tour in Poland.

Open Air Steam Engine Museum surrounds the mine building, where children can have a ride on a small narrow-gauge railway.