The Ojuela mine was founded in 1598 and is currently located in the municipality of Mapimí. It flourished during the 18th century and was part of a system of mines and real estates that was crucial in the route of the Royal Inland Road.
By 1777, there were many established merchants exploiting the mines, with the Ojuela mine being the most prosperous. Despite this prosperity, the mine, which had around 35 shafts, faced serious accessibility issues. By the end of the 19th century, the Mapimí region experienced a boom with the start of activities by the Peñoles mining company, which acquired the Ojuela mine in 1891.
This company modernized production through the use of electricity for operating large drills, the installation of a rack railway, a processing plant called De Agua, and the construction of a 336-meter-long suspension bridge. The Ojuela mine bridge was built in 1892 by the German engineer Santiago Minguín, who also contributed to the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California, USA.
