9/27/2013
Quincy Mine, Hancock Michigan
Quincy Mine Keweenaw National Historic Park, Hancock MI
The Quincy mine is a centerpiece of the Keweenaw National Historical Park. The Keweenaw National Historical Park encompasses several sites in the Keweenaw Peninsula preserving the regions' copper mining history. The Lowel National Historical Park is the only other park in the national system that I know of, that focuses on industrial history and is as extensive as the Keweenaw park. Besides the Quincy Mine, the Keweenaw National Historical Park includes the Quincy Smelter and multiple locations in Calumet. The Quincy Mine is not owned by the park service. It is one of many "Heritage sites" in the park and is owned by a partner non-profit organization- in this case The Quincy Mine Hoist Association. I'm not sure how exactly the Keweenaw public-private partnerships work, but the system seems to be very successful.
Quincy Mine Keweenaw National Historic Park, Hancock MI
The Quincy Mine operated from 1846 to 1945. Most early copper mines in the Keweenaw focused on pulling masses of pure, solid copper out of the ground. The Quincy mine was one of the first to instead focus on mining ore with a lower percentage of copper, which was then purified in processing plants. This strategy was successful and contributed to the Quincy mine's longevity. Ore from the mine was sent to the Quincy Smelter and the Quincy Stamp mill for processing and purification. A small company town was developed around the mine and over the hundred years of it's operation many mine related buildings were constructed. The Quincy mining company purchased several neighboring mines over the years. When the mine closed in 1945 the Quincy Mining company's properties sprawled over a large area on the hillside above Hancock and included the nearby smelter, stamp mill a small railroad, etc. Preservation efforts did not begin for many years after the mine's closure. In the years between the mine's closure and the creation of the park, many of the mine's structures fell into disrepair and ruin. Today you can walk around the grounds of the former mine and see renovated and reconstructed buildings as well as ruins of former buildings. The Quincy Mine makes a great starting point for exploring the many sites in the Keweenaw National Historical Park.
Information about the Quincy Mine at the Copper Country Explorer.
Quincy Mine Keweenaw National Historic Park, Hancock MI
Quincy Mine Keweenaw National Historic Park, Hancock MI
Quincy Mine Keweenaw National Historic Park, Hancock MI
Quincy Mine Keweenaw National Historic Park, Hancock MI
Quincy Mine Keweenaw National Historic Park, Hancock MI
Quincy Mine Keweenaw National Historic Park, Hancock MI
Quincy Mine Keweenaw National Historic Park, Hancock MI
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