Michigan Technological University

Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences

Mining Engineering—History

Mining History Links

Copper Country Mine
Quincy Mine #6 Shafthouse
Painting by Charles L. Matson
(1949 MTU Mining Graduate)
Copper Country Mine
Go To Mine Shafts of Michigan Historical Photos


Mining History Sites:

Michigan has a long mining history. Copper, iron, gold, silver, gypsum, slate, salt, coal and limestone have been mined in Michigan. This is a list of some of the mining history sites related to mining in Michigan.

We provide this list for students, alumni and other visitors who may drift into our web site in the pursuit of mining history. We are not responsible for links to web pages beyond this page: Links were checked 6/6/2012


MUSEUMS

Lansing
Michigan Historical Museum,
located in the Michigan Historical Center in Lansing:
Mining in Michigan Gallery

Houghton
A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum, Houghton, MI
Official Mineralogical Museum of Michigan
Finest collection of minerals from Michigan's mining districts

Copper Country Rock & Mineral Club & Keweenaw Week

Negaunee
Michigan Iron Industry Museum
overlooks the Carp River and the site of the
first iron forge in the Lake Superior region, Negaunee, MI

Caspian
Iron County Museum, Caspian, MI
In the shadow of Caspian mine headframe &
a fine collection of mining history and artifacts

Eagle Harbor
Keweenaw County Historical Museum, Star Route 1, Eagle Harbor, MI

Gwinn
Forsyth Township Historical Museum, 186 W. Flint Street, Gwinn, MI

Houghton
MTU Archives and
Copper Country Historical Collections

Michigan copper mining history

Ishpeming
Cliffs Shaft Heritage Theme Park, Lakeshore Boulevard, Ishpeming
New historical theme park of mine shafts and museum

Iron Mountain
Menominee Iron Range Historical Museum
and Cornish Pump, Iron Mountain, MI

Ironwood
Ironwood Area Historical Society Ironwood, MI
Museum in depot on N. Lowell St. on Gogebic Iron Range

Lake Linden
Houghton County is in the center of Michigan's Copper Country
Houghton County Historical Museum, Lake Linden, MI
Copper Country Railroad History Heritage Center

Marquette
Northern Michigan University Archives, Harden Learning Resources Center, 1401 Presque Isle Avenue, Marquette, MI

Marquette County Historical Museum,
213 N. Front St.,
John M. Longyear Research Library, Marquette, MI

Upper Peninsula Childrens Museum
Marquette, Michigan

Michigamme
Michigamme Historical Museum
Main Street, Michigamme, MI

Negaunee
Negaunee Historical Museum 303 E. Main, Negaunee, MI

Ontonagon
Ontonagon County Historical Museum, Ontonagon, MI
422 River Street; Includes mining exhibits

South Range
Copper Range Historical Society, South Range, MI


Wakefield
Wakefield Historical Museum, Wakefield, MI
306 Sunday Lake Stree; Gogebic Iron Range


PARKS & SITES

Calumet
Keweenaw National Historical Park, Calumet, MI
America's first large scale hard-rock industrial mining

Coppertown USA, Calumet, MI
at site of Calumet and Hecla copper mine

Copper Harbor
Fort Wilkins State Park, Copper Harbor, MI
Early 1840s copper mining history

Fayette
Fayette was once one of the Upper Peninsula's
most productive iron-smelting operations;
Fayette Historic Iron Industry Townsite, Fayette, MI

Houghton
Isle Royale National Park, Houghton, MI
Several early copper mines on island

Ontonagon
Porcupine Mountains State Park, Ontonagon County, MI
Earliest mining attempt, 1760s, Explorer Alexander Henry

Painesdale
Champion Mine #4 Shaft, Painesdale, MI
Painesdale Mine & Shaft Inc.: Copper Mine headframe

Rockland
Old Victoria Copper Mine Historical Site, Rockland, MI
Restored 19th Century Mining Village


MINES


Delaware
Delaware Copper Mine, Delaware, Keweenaw County, MI
Underground Copper Mine

Greenland
Caledonia Copper Mine, Mass, Ontonagon County, MI
Underground Copper Mine

Adventure Copper Mine, Greenland, MI
Underground Copper Mine

Hancock
Quincy Mine Hoist, Mine and Tram, Hancock, MI
Historical site of headframe and hoist
Served one of the deepest mines.

Ishpeming
Empire Mine, Ishpeming, Marqutte County, MI
Operating Surface Mine

Tilden Mine, Ishpeming, Marqutte County, MI
Operating Surface Mine
Mine Tours may be vailable: Consult local Chamber of Commerce.

Republic
Republic Iron Mine, Republic, MI; Inactive open pit iron mine, 600' deep and 250 acres in size (also had mine shafts).

Vulcan
Iron Mountain Museum and Iron Mine, Vulcan MI.
Underground Iron Mine

INFORMATION


MTU Industrial Archaeology

Mining History Association

Mining History Network

Copper Range Railroad and Copper Country Historical Page

Duluth, South Shore, and Atlantic Railway Home Page

State Archives of Michigan
Mining Records


MINING HISTORY PAGES
Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences Department
A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum

The sale or commercial use of Illustrations, photographs
and graphic images presented on this site is not permitted.

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Department of Mining Engineering
Michigan Technological University
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Updated August 3, 2015

Michigan Technological University is an equal opportunity educational institution/equal opportunity employer.

Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences

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Fax: 906-487-3371
Email: geo@mtu.edu

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