1. Print the Quincy Mine Timeline Activity Sheet and the Quincy Mine Events Activity Sheet. 2. Read the summary of the history of the Quincy Mine below. 3. Using scissors, cut out the 6 event squares on the Events Activity Sheet. 4. Place the event squares in order on the Timeline Activity Sheet, following the historical order of events at the Quincy Mine.
Summary The Quincy Mine was one of the many copper mines in Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula. It was located in what is now Hancock, Michigan, right near the Portage Canal. Most of the mine site is in ruins, but one of the rockhouses is still standing, and the massive Nordberg Steam Hoist is still in place today. The Quincy rockhouse serves as a symbol for the Keweenaw’s rich copper mining history.
The Quincy Mining Company was created in 1846, and the Quincy Mine opened in 1848. It was located over two big patches of copper. These patches are called “lodes.” The Quincy Mine wasn’t very successful at first, but once the workers discovered the copper-rich Pewabic Lode in 1855, the Quincy Mine quickly became very profitable. As the years passed, the Quincy Mine got deeper and deeper. In 1908, the No. 2 rockhouse, which still stands today, finished construction. Things started to slow down during the 1930s due to the Great Depression. Copper prices went down, and the mine couldn’t afford to stay open. The Quincy Mine temporarily stopped all of its mining operations. However, during World War II in the early 1940s, the Quincy Mine started up again because of the demand for copper to make equipment for the war. This revival didn’t last long, though. When the war ended, copper prices dropped again, and the Quincy Mine was forced to close its doors for good in 1945. |
Last updated: January 8, 2026