Wm. Jack John Foster Collection |
A Copper Range engine near Atlantic in 1904
(click on the photo for a larger version). |
It all began in 1841. That's when Douglass Houghton, Michigan's first state geologist, filed surveys and reports demonstrating an abundance of copper in the region.
The Calumet and Hecla Mining Company (C&H) and the Quincy Mining Company came to dominate the Michigan copper industry. From 1867-1882, the companies represented the greatest longevity, production and technical innovation in the world. During this time, C&H alone accounted for more than half of the nation's copper. As late as 1882, C&H accounted for 63 percent of the total U.S. copper production. Read more about the area's history here.
There are a number of historical attractions along the Copper Country Trail. Good starting points are the two units of the Keweenaw National Historical Park. The Quincy unit, just north of Hancock, includes one of the area's most visible landmarks -- the Quincy Mine. The Calumet unit will help you learn of the area's rich mining history and introduce you to the park's 17 cooperating sites, which includes historical societies, turn-of-the-century bed-and-breakfasts, state parks, heritage centers and museums.
