The Keweenaw Peninsula in Michigan: a Well Kept Secret

Unless you're from Michigan or Wisconsin you've probably not heard of the Keweenaw Peninsula in Michigan. Despite its lack of reputation, it is one of the diamonds in the wilderness. It's filled with history, nature and art and worth taking a look at.

Houghton and Hancock are two of the biggest cities in this county; yet Houghton's population is only 7,010 and Hancock's is 4,032. These small city's population fluxuates largely according to the two colleges that exist in this area: Michigan Technological University and Soumi in Hancock. Although these towns haven't been heard of often, they are worth taking a vacation up there as it is filled with history and nature.

This area was once booming in the late 1800s and early 1900s as one of the largest producers of mass copper in the world. Companies from Europe and the east coast of the US would send people up to this area to set up a stake in land to be developed in a mining area. Although after World War II the production of copper dropped off dramatically and is no longer produced up here, it takes no searching to see the remnants of its glory days. Old ruins of buildings dot the landscape overlooking highways and businesses alike. Some places in the Keweenaw boast ghost towns where you can walk around taking in the now grass covered ruins that used to be bustling mining towns.

Because of its historical background, the area has very old architecture. Old houses built by the mining companies line the edges of cities and roads. In the bigger cities old Jacobville Sandstone (exclusively mined in the Keweenaw) building built in the 1920s during the height of the copper mining days still stand holding small businesses.

Another interesting architectural piece is the lift bridge built in 1901 that crosses the Portage River between Houghton and Hancock. This lift bridge is one of the few left in the country and is claimed to be the heaviest and widest lift bridge in the world.

To learn more about the industry you can visit Quincy Mine in Hancock, which is just across the bridge from Houghton. When driving into Houghton you can see the large metal structure standing over the trees on top of the hill. This tour includes a trip into one of the old mines and includes an artifact display. Quincy Mine was important because it was at one time the deepest mine in the world, until the African diamond mines over took it in depth.

Another place to learn about the area is a small museum free of charge that has some rotating displays and pictures of the glory days of the county. Its located in the old library and you can see the old fireplace and beautiful woodwork.

Michigan Technological University has a mineral museum in the top of the Electrical Engineer Building. This museum houses many mineral specimens, many permanent and others rotating. It has been said to have one of the finest mineral collections in the world. There is also a nice gift shop there for the mineral lover.

If you like Art, look into the Community Arts Center in Hancock. This small center has a gift area, and you can walk through the changing exhibits of local artisans. Another good place for the arts is the Vertin Gallery in Calumet. People say that it is worth going into this gallery just to see the architecture of this old department store.

If your up in the Keweenaw, I also recommend that you stop and get some Thimbleberry Jam if it's in the summer. The Thimbleberry plant has huge leaves that are the shape of maple leaves and produces small tart berries in summer.

Sunday driving and exploring is an activity people do in summer and winter, but can be dangerous in winter due to very icy conditions. Some roads are shut down and places such as Brockway Mountain, which makes for a beautiful drive and viewing in the summer. The advantage of going in winter is that there is excellent skiing at places like Riply Mountain just outside of Hancock, or snowmobiling on trails.

I've just touched on a few of the places to go in the Keweenaw, but I highly recommend that if your looking for a historical, well kept secret to make a stop in the Keweenaw. Don't be afraid to look around, and ask locals what there is to do.