Did you know that gold has played an important part in Aruba’s history? Aruba’s name roughly translates to “there was gold”. On the north coast of the island resides the Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins, a remnant of the island’s Gold Rush.
Table of Contents
The Gold Rush of 1824
During the 1700s the Dutch explored the Caribbean in search of gold and treasures hidden by the Spanish. They explored Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao but left disappointed.
Fast Forward to 1824 when a twelve-year-old herder discovered gold ore in the hills of Rooi Fluit. Almost immediately, gold became an important part of Aruba’s history from 1824 until about 1916. Nearly everyone on the island sought out the precious metal. However, what they found had to be sold to the government at a fixed price.
The fever died out in 1830 however, new gold veins were discovered in 1854. Afterward, locals were prohibited from digging for gold. A Dutch Company had exclusive rights for digging on the island before changing hands to American and English companies.
The island produced more than 3 million pounds, in total.
The Bushiribana Gold Mill
The Aruba Island Gold Mining Company built Bushiribana in 1874 to extract gold from the ore that was being mined in the hills nearby. The limestone mill was designed to look like a fort in order to intimidate potential pirates.
Eventually, in 1916 during World War 1, the Aruba Gold Mining Company decided to cease all operations on the island. The digging never resumed.
Visiting the Mill
Although it costs nothing to visit and explore the Bushiribana Ruins, you may want to visit with a tour guide. There are no guides, information pamphlets, or even signs that explain the history of the site. Everything is just kind of left open for you to interpret.
The views from the mill are absolutely remarkable. This is definitely one of Aruba’s most photogenic locations!
Visiting the Mill is a must, especially if you’re already in the area visiting the Aruba Ostrich Farm, the Small Natural Pool, or the Ayo Rock Formations.
Save a Pin & Start Planning Your Adventure!
4 replies on “Exploring the Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins of Aruba”
This is so interesting! I had no idea that there were ruins like this in Aruba, so I’ll make sure to add it to my list when I visit the island!
I knew absolutely none of this about Aruba – including that the name means “there was gold.” Thanks for a fascinating article!
What a beautiful place. I never thought of ruins when I thought of Aruba. I’d love to visit.
[…] most famous buildings on the island, it was added to our itinerary along with the Natural Bridge, Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins, the Ostrich Farm, the Ayo Rock Formations, and a handful of other […]