A slideshow of some of the abandoned copper mines we visited in the Keweenaw Peninsula. Some were more difficult to get to than others, but the history was fascinating.
I'm from Dundee Mi starting with my great grandfather and following were all hard rock copper miners one member a great lakes iron ore ship captain until retirement. I still have family still living in Mohawk Mi just south of Central Mine. I recognized every pic in your video as I've extensively explored the Keweenaw by ATV on the back trails. There's so much more out there than one realizes. The old cliff mine has a wealth of history and I like to metal detect this area as well others like the North American mine. My family has 100 years of mining history it seems to hold historical interests. Since I was a baby my parents would come up every summer to hang with my great uncle's and my grandpa. Lac LA Bell is where I now stay the fishing is awesome and the old railroad grades will take you to ghost towns you never knew were there.
Nothing but the best for the Quincy Mine shaft building - note the stained glass in the building windows and, not long ago, one could still find pieces of Italian roof tile which comprised the roof - scattered on the ground at the base of the building. These features indicate how important the public appearance was for the Quincy Mining Co. owners - proud of their operations and proud to be in the community of Hancock, Michigan.
Many of the properties have defaulted back to government for non payment of taxes, they are therefore public property in many cases, others are abandoned years ago, if you trespass, most likely no one will care since the people left sixty years ago. I lived in Iron Mountain MI and wandered all over the Keweenaw, especially Copper Harbor where it's still 1955 in many ways...lots of cool minerals and rocks to collect, lots of people selling copper nuggets on the side of the road too, great video!
Many of the old stone buildings and walls in this video remind me a lot of our old mine buildings here in Cornwall (United Kingdom). Even the windows in the derelict red brick buildings remind me of our Methodist chapels. Like the video and music very much. Some of my family worked in Calumet, before World War 1.
Well done! I have been to all the places in the video and more...so much to see and explore in the Keweenaw...find the Gay stamp mill and Tobacco River Park!
The Quincy Mine and Hoist is between Calumet and Hancock -- both are north of the waterway that was cut to create "Copper Island" which is entirely Keweenaw County. We also visited the Quincy Smelter in Hancock which would also be considered in the Keweenaw (north of the waterway). I'm sure there are other Quincy Mine Co. locations, but I haven't visited them.
Even though that's true dapa4, I believe they are referring to the Keweenaw Peninsula. Anything North of the Portage Canal is called the Keweenaw Peninsula, even though, Keweenaw COUNTY starts around Ahmeek/Allouez
Love the way you put this vid together with the un-moody un-blues song. Well it's not moody and it's not blue, now is it? Makes me smile and my budgies sing. Gotta Love it.
There were several different mine locations included in this slide show. All were in the Keweenaw Peninsula, however. If you send me a message with your e-mail address, I can get you GPS coordinates for most of the places we went -- just let me know which sites you're interested in.
On my 2010 Vacation to the Keweenaw I had the opportunity to go for a ride on an ATV I was lead by my Friend Mike who has lived there his whole life. Mike's Father was the maintenance man for the mining railroads. He knows every trail and rail grade we could find. It was like having a guided tour of copper history by a guy who knew it all, who saw some of it first hand. I was able to get the childhood stories of a man in his late 50's about a time when this area was booming. It was awesome.
can someone save those steamk locomotives they need to be put in a museum please as do those freight cars u don't see them like that anymore ! #Save abandoned mining railroad heritage
The steam locomotives shown are on museum / national park property and have been fixed up some (in a preservation sense, not in the sense of making them operable) since this video was taken.
I'm from Dundee Mi starting with my great grandfather and following were all hard rock copper miners one member a great lakes iron ore ship captain until retirement. I still have family still living in Mohawk Mi just south of Central Mine. I recognized every pic in your video as I've extensively explored the Keweenaw by ATV on the back trails. There's so much more out there than one realizes. The old cliff mine has a wealth of history and I like to metal detect this area as well others like the North American mine. My family has 100 years of mining history it seems to hold historical interests. Since I was a baby my parents would come up every summer to hang with my great uncle's and my grandpa. Lac LA Bell is where I now stay the fishing is awesome and the old railroad grades will take you to ghost towns you never knew were there.
There must be some great family stories for you!
i used to play in the mohawk mill when i was a kid.
Nothing but the best for the Quincy Mine shaft building - note the stained glass in the building windows and, not long ago, one could still find pieces of Italian roof tile which comprised the roof - scattered on the ground at the base of the building. These features indicate how important the public appearance was for the Quincy Mining Co. owners - proud of their operations and proud to be in the community of Hancock, Michigan.
Many of the properties have defaulted back to government for non payment of taxes, they are therefore public property in many cases, others are abandoned years ago, if you trespass, most likely no one will care since the people left sixty years ago. I lived in Iron Mountain MI and wandered all over the Keweenaw, especially Copper Harbor where it's still 1955 in many ways...lots of cool minerals and rocks to collect, lots of people selling copper nuggets on the side of the road too, great video!
Many of the old stone buildings and walls in this video remind me a lot of our old mine buildings here in Cornwall (United Kingdom). Even the windows in the derelict red brick buildings remind me of our Methodist chapels. Like the video and music very much. Some of my family worked in Calumet, before World War 1.
Well done! I have been to all the places in the video and more...so much to see and explore in the Keweenaw...find the Gay stamp mill and Tobacco River Park!
a nice video...I'm a yooper and my son went to Tech so yeah, nice, tanks :)
The Quincy Mine and Hoist is between Calumet and Hancock -- both are north of the waterway that was cut to create "Copper Island" which is entirely Keweenaw County. We also visited the Quincy Smelter in Hancock which would also be considered in the Keweenaw (north of the waterway). I'm sure there are other Quincy Mine Co. locations, but I haven't visited them.
That's "Your Wildest Dreams" by The Moody Blues.
@firechasers Calumet and Hancock are both in Houghton county, Keweenaw county starts more around Allouez
Even though that's true dapa4, I believe they are referring to the Keweenaw Peninsula. Anything North of the Portage Canal is called the Keweenaw Peninsula, even though, Keweenaw COUNTY starts around Ahmeek/Allouez
I like your video. I've seen many of these communities at one time or another
Love the way you put this vid together with the un-moody un-blues song. Well it's not moody and it's not blue, now is it? Makes me smile and my budgies sing. Gotta Love it.
There were several different mine locations included in this slide show. All were in the Keweenaw Peninsula, however. If you send me a message with your e-mail address, I can get you GPS coordinates for most of the places we went -- just let me know which sites you're interested in.
I've never even heard of pre-Columbian mines in the UP, but I think it would warrant more research on my part.
@dapa4 Thank you so much for the spelling of 'Allouez'. My Mom talked about these places up north, all of her life. :-)
Good photos - TOTALLY SUKKS music.
Dave, I totally agree.
On my 2010 Vacation to the Keweenaw I had the opportunity to go for a ride on an ATV I was lead by my Friend Mike who has lived there his whole life. Mike's Father was the maintenance man for the mining railroads. He knows every trail and rail grade we could find. It was like having a guided tour of copper history by a guy who knew it all, who saw some of it first hand. I was able to get the childhood stories of a man in his late 50's about a time when this area was booming. It was awesome.
can someone save those steamk locomotives they need to be put in a museum please as do those freight cars u don't see them like that anymore ! #Save abandoned mining railroad heritage
The steam locomotives shown are on museum / national park property and have been fixed up some (in a preservation sense, not in the sense of making them operable) since this video was taken.
Boy I sure would like those GPS cords Too Thanks ; )
where is the first one located exactly? planning a trip to the UP very soon.
Great dream
is there 2 quincys?