Digging Deep in Copper Country - Quincy Mine, Michigan

This year, we spend our Fourth of July holiday visiting Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.  There are so many things to see and do – we have to keep coming back!  

We arrive at Houghton, Michigan – the entryway to the Keweenaw Peninsula.  We cross the Houghton-Hancock Bridge (aka the Portage Lake Lift Bridge).  This lift-bridge was opened in 1959 and is about 500 feet long. 

Lift Bridge

Near the town of Hancock is the Quincy Mine. A number of ruins can be found in this area. Along M-26 we can see some stone ruins on a hill to our left. A short road leads us to a parking lot and informational signs. We walk down an old two-track road to get a better look at the Dry House Ruins and peak inside the now roofless building (built around 1860).

Park Informational Sign

Dry House Ruins

Peak Inside Dry House Ruins

A dry house was a large place where workers could go to wash off the dirt from the mines and change back into their clean dry clothes before they went home. Typically, a dry house had windows along both sides of the building and contained rows and rows of lockers (one assigned to each worker). The building would have included a large wash basin with hot running water.

We get in our car and drive across the street to see more ruins. A road takes us along side the old Engine Shop (train repair) and an old wooden tower. There is a small grass parking lot here.  

Engine Shop

Wooden Tower

From the parking lot, we follow an abandoned railroad grade for a short distance to gt a closer look at three more roofless stone buildings (like the No. 2 Shaft-Rockhouse). Once upon a time these buildings were ornate in design. Arched windows accented with brickwork lend a distinct appearance giving each building a sense of importance regardless of its use.

 Quincy mine Ruins

Quincy mine Ruins

Reflections of the Past

We return to our car and drive to the top of Quincy Hill. We stop at the gift shop and buy tickets for the 5pm mine tour. Our two-hour tour begins at the brick 1894 Hoist House. Inside the building is a model of the mining operations with a model train that circles the exhibit. We meet our tour guide.   

Entrance Sign

1894 Hoist House

Model Train inside Hoist House

Wearing our yellow hard hats, we begin our tour with a 5-7 minute ride on the cog-wheel tram down the steep hillside (one spot has a 33% grade). It is 86 degrees F today but inside the mine it is cool 43 degrees F and breezy … we're glad we took a jacket!.   

Cogwheel Tram

Cresting the 33% grade

At the bottom of the hill, we leave the tram and get on a tractor pulled-wagon for a ride into the mine (seven levels underground). Waiting for our ride to begin, we can feel the rush of cold air blowing out of the mine’s entrance. We leave the daylight and pass through the adit - horizontal mine entrance that has been enlarged to 15’ x 15’ - into the ceiling-lighted tunnel traveling about 1,800 feet inside the mine. At one point, we are about 360 feet below the surface.   

Wagon Ride into the Mine

We leave the wagon and walk a short distance into the mine where we are shown some of the mining equipment and told how the copper was extracted and taken to the surface.   

Inside the Mine

Mine Shaft

Our tractor pulled wagon takes us back to the adit/entrance where the cog-wheel tram returns us to the top of the hill.

Our surface tour continues with a tour of the 1918 Hoist House. To raise and lower ore and the workers into this shaft, the world's largest steam-driven mine hoist was built in 1918 and was housed in the Quincy Number 2 Hoist House. This building was rare for its time – notice the decorative windows – it was used as a show piece to impress potential investors. Oh – and while you are touring the building be on the look out for Sneakers!

1918 Hoist House

Steam Hoist

Sneakers

The guided tour ended here but there is still more to see. Behind the 1918 Hoist House there are some more interesting pieces of equipment including a locomotive.

 Locomotive & 1918 Hoist House

Equipment & 1918 Hoist House

Boiler House

Miner's Residence

Around the Hancock/Torch Lake area, you can find more historic buildings from the Quincy Mine era.

Quincy Mine Office

The Calumet & Hecla/Quincy Reclaiming Sand Dredge is located on M-26 along Torch Lake. It was designated a Michigan Historic Site on July 26, 1978.

Michigan Historic Site on M-26

Across the road from the dredge are the ruins of the Turbine Building (built in 1921) and the Stamp Mill #2 near the town of Mason.

Turbine Building

Stamp Mill

Family vacations created some of my favorite memories. To start planning your memorable trip to the Quincy Mine please click on the following link:

Quincy Mine

The town of Houghton will offer the widest selection for food and lodging.  However, a variety of options are available throughout the Houghton-Hancock area.  Since opinions, budgets, and preferences vary, I recommend checking a trusted travel source for current reviews on food and lodging.

If you are interested in visiting other nearby mines and mining towns, I invite you to view my other blog post on Keweenaw Heritage Sites by clicking on the following link:

Keweenaw County Ghost Towns
Fayette Ghost Town
Old Victoria
Fiborn Quarry
Nonesuch & Union Mines - Keweenaw Heritage Sites