Advisory Commission Meeting 1/19/2022

Keweenaw National Historical Park Headquarters

January 19, 2022

Present: Commissioners

• Glenn Anderson, State of Michigan
• Karin Cooper, Houghton County
• Gerald Juntunen, at-large
• Dan Jamison, at-large
• John Sullivan, Franklin and Quincy Townships

Absent:

• Keith Koppernolle, Calumet Township
• Dave Geisler, Village of Calumet

Present: Executive Director

• Sean Gohman (also recording Secretary)

Present: National Park Service (NPS)

• Wendy Davis, Superintendent
• Brian Hoduski, Museum Curator
• Steve DeLong, Landscape Architect

Present: Guests

• Jean Pemberton, Copper Range Historical Society
• Marcia Slater, Hanka Homestead
• Colette Marie McLaughlin, Hanka Homestead
• Edwin Rysonen, Hanka Honestead
• Karen Hintz, Keweenaw County Historical Society
• Tom Wright, Quincy Mine Hoist Association

Call to Order

A regular meeting of the Keweenaw National Historical Park Advisory Commission was opened at 1:02 p.m., Wednesday, January 19, 2022.

Approval of Agenda

Motion to amend and approve agenda to include discussion and approval of Sean Gohman’s Executive Director contract with the Advisory Commission. Moved by Jamison and seconded by Juntunen to approve of the amended agenda for January 19, 2022. Motion carried unanimously. (5/0).

Approval of Minutes of October 19, 2021

Moved by Sullivan and seconded Dan Jamison to approve of the minutes of October 19, 2021. Motion carried unanimously. (5/0).

Superintendent’s Report

Superintendent Wendy Davis provided an overview of recent news and summaries of key accomplishments of the various park divisions.

Projects have been submitted for funding. Each year there is a process to applying for funding to cover yearly projects outside the day-to-day operations.

Approaching the 30th anniversary of the park this fall. Using this opportunity to re-commit to partnerships with Heritage Sites, other orgs that may become Heritage Sites, to re-examine that relationship and what Technical Assistance looks like for the future. To “listen again” to the concerns of our partners and work together to “more substantially plan” events/programs/missions to meet shared goals.

Looking to attract funding via the Abandoned Mine Lands program for accessibility, safety, and preservation projects. “It’s not just about making things safe, but safe through the process of historic preservation.” We want to do more work like that recently completed at the Eagle Harbor Lighthouse (KCHS) to transition to self-guided tours. Plans in place thanks to efforts of Landscape Architect Steve DeLong to provide visitors with more accessible experiences in and around both the Headquarters building and the Visitors Center. Improve access to the Agassiz statute, the entrance to the Headquarters and Agassiz House.

• Historical Architect John Arnold is working with several property owners to improve their historic Calumet property holdings.

• C&H Warehouse #1 in Calumet is still in planning stages to be a future curatorial storage facility for Keweenaw, Isle Royale, and Picture Rocks national parks (and potentially others). Conceptual design has been approved. Contract for final design went out this week. Should be able to report on who the contractor is in January. Slated for 2027 completion, but this may be moved up 2025.

If you have stories to share on the Park website, please contact us to get those out there via the website and/or social media.

The job announcement for a new lead interp/education position at the park is now open. “Some amazing candidates have so far applied.”

Q&A:

• The plan is to open the Visitors Center for more days and hours this summer.

• Copper Traces will NOT be offered this spring, but looking to reinstate for next spring when we have a new Interp/Education lead up to speed.

• School bus reimbursement is available this year. Access is via the NPS website under LEARN ABOUT THE PARK>EDUCATION> TRANSPROTATION REIMBURSEMENT

Executive Director’s Report

Executive Director Sean Gohman reported on how the goals of the Advisory Commission were supported during the quarter.

In November, the Commission and National Park hosted its annual Fall Heritage Sites meeting in person at the park’s Visitors Center in Calumet. Sixteen Heritage Sites, along with representatives from Painesdale Mine & Shaft, attended the meeting, with each giving a short update on how their summer tourist season went and in some cases what they have planned for 2022. Almost every site reported increases in visitors and/or revenue this past summer. Many of the sites have modified their visitor experiences due to covid-related issues and have seen benefits that will continue after this pandemic has passed us by. It was great to see everyone together and get that reminder that we are all in this mission to tell the story of Michigan’s copper together.

A couple weeks before the Heritage Sites meeting the Commission, along with our partners at the Quincy Mine Hoist Association and Michigan Technological University’s Visual and Performing Arts program, put on a successful three-night Haunted Halloween event at the Quincy Smelting Works. Nearly $6,000 was raised during the event, with over 600 people passing through the gates. The money raised went towards event costs, wages for docents giving smelter tours, and future maintenance at the site. If you had a chance to check it out in person, it was a unique way to experience the smelter. Many of the students involved stated that it was a great event for their own professional experience, as the since presented many challenges in terms of utility use, set design within an historic property, accessibility, safety, and of course, cold and wind! Whether or not this event will return to the smelter is to be decided, but it was certainly a success. I’ve been told it was the most money generated for a Halloween event put on by the Quincy Mine Hoist Association.

Speaking of the Quincy Smelter, a rough edit of an educational video being created about the smelter has been completed by Alexis Dahl. The roughly 10-minute video outlines the process of copper smelting using on-site imagery and animations geared to a general audience. We are hoping to have a completed video up and running by the start of this year’s spring/summer tourist season, so be on the lookout for that.

The Commission and National Park Service will be meeting shortly to discuss how to spend this year’s funds on a variety of projects mentioned at our last public meeting. $80,000 was secured thanks to Keweenaw NHP staff. A rough outline of funds and projects:

• $15,000 for interpretive trail work at the Quincy Mine.
• $5,000 for a traveling exhibit that we are working on securing a home for.
• $25,000 for an art installation/artist in residence program.
• $30,000 for addressing openings in the Quincy Smelter property that animals and birds have been using to access interiors and damage things.
• $5,000 for new a new entrance interpretive sign at the Quincy Smelter.

Finally, the Commission would like to announce that thanks to the continued support of the Keweenaw National Historical Park and an anonymous donor, the Keweenaw Heritage Grant program will be accepting applications for 2022. $120,000 will be awarded this year to support projects that further the preservation and interpretation of the story of copper on the Keweenaw Peninsula. For the 2022 grant program, the proposed project or program must be: located within the boundaries of Keweenaw NHP; affiliated with an existing Keweenaw Heritage Site; or located at the Cliff Mine, along Torch Lake, or within the community of Painesdale. New application forms will be found on the Keweenaw National Historical Park website shortly. For more information contact Executive Director, Sean Gohman at 906-483-3040.

Commission Committees and Projects

Announcements / Executive

Sullivan motioned and Juntunen seconded the motion to approve a two-year contract between the Commission and Sean Gohman as Executive Director. Motion carried unanimously. (5/0)

Budget / Finance

Moved by Glenn Anderson and seconded by Juntunen to approved in $14,876.89 billing and wages and tax of $16,939.48. Motion carried unanimously. (5/0)

Other reports from Commissioners

None

Comments from Legislators or Legislative Staff

None

Comments from Keweenaw Heritage Site Representatives

Karen Hintz informed everyone that Mel Jones is now President of Keweenaw County Historical Society.

Marcia Slater and Colette McLaughlin from Hanka Homestead informed that their org has been in contact with Vikings Tours. Seven cruises will be coming to Houghton this summer. One of those visits will hopefully include a tour of Hanka (currently in planning stages). The film production is completed.

Jean Pemberton of Copper Range Historical Society informed the Commission that they will revert to their pre-covid summer schedule. Open M-F in July and August. T-F in June and September. A new Facebook page has been created for anyone to post to. A new board member has joined but still one board position is open. Looking for a new board member to handle the secretary position.

Q&A:

• Gohman asked who is in charge at Hanka now? Slater responded that Oscar Heikenen is still president.

Comments from the Public

None

Comments from NPS/KNHP

Brian Hoduski from KEWE wanted all to know that a NPS conservator will be visiting Eagle Harbor this summer to look at some items on loan from Cape Hatteras National Seashore at the Lifesaving Museum. Paper cleaning training was offered by KNHP to Michigan Tech Archives staff.

Motion to Adjourn

Moved to adjourn by Cooper, and seconded by Sullivan at 1:44 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. (5/0).

Next Meeting

Wednesday, April 13, 2022 at 1:00pm at Keweenaw NHP Headquarters.