Here's another historic Michigan place for you all.....the Quincy Smelter in Hancock, Keewenaw Peninsula in the U.P.

It's the only remaining copper smelter in the Lake Superior region and it's in need of saving for history. It was built in 1898 by the Quincy Mining Company to process ore from local copper mines.....it ceased operation in 1972 (SEE PHOTO GALLERY BELOW).

The Quincy Smelter was built to melt, purify and mold the raw copper so Upper Michigan wouldn't have to ship ore to private contractors, as far away as Detroit. Now all the ore could be mined, stamped and smelted all in one place, thanks to the Smelter.

The Quincy Smelter's most profitable mine shaft was over 6,000 feet deep and titled “Deepest Mine in the United States.”

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Franklin Township currently owns the land but nobody knows what to do with it...tear it down? Refurbish? Turn into a museum?

According to substreet.org, the EPA and National Park Service want to turn it into a public tourist destination, allowing people to walk through on their own, along with picnicking & fishing.

Some townspeople (and others from the park service) want to either preserve it or turn it into some other kind of business: a restaurant or some other type of shop. Souvenirs, hotel, maybe?

Some parts have been repaired and some funding has been offered as well.

To find out why it shut down in 1972 and to learn more, you can find out at substreet.org by CLICKING HERE.

It's a cool little stop on your 2017 Michigan Roadtrip!
If you stop in, you may be able to walk around at your will...or at least, someone might show you around.

Don't forget to check out the photo gallery below for many pictures, inside the smelter and out, then watch the 10 minute video below. Drive up and check it out this summer!!!

QUINCY SMELTER GALLERY

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