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Keweenaw National Historical Park Autumn colors surround the hillside around the Quincy Smelter
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Keweenaw National Historical Park
Quincy Smelter
Ruins of the Quincy Smelter are located on Portage Lake across from the Houghton waterfront.
NPS Photo, Dan Johnson.
Ruins of the Quincy Smelter are located on Portage Lake across from the Houghton waterfront.
 
Copper ingot

Keweenaw NHP Collection

Copper ingots like this one were made at the Quincy Smelter.

Built by the Quincy Mining Company, the smelter used heat and chemical processes to turn copper ore into ingots. The ingots were then sold and shipped to factories where they were turned into products such as copper wire or tubing. The Quincy Smelter is the only copper smelter remaining in the Lake Superior Region.

This site is not open to the public at this time. The Quincy Smelter site is owned by Franklin Township and is undergoing treatment to remove hazardous materials. Future considerations for the site include stabilizing the structures and possibly adapting some parts into a visitor center facility for Keweenaw National Historical Park.

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Photo: Float copper on exhibit in Calumet

Did You Know?
During the ice ages, glaciers ripped chunks of copper away from exposed rock outcrops and then carried the copper sometimes long distances before depositing them. These loose pieces are referred to as float copper.

Last Updated: January 06, 2012 at 14:05 MST