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Keweenaw NHP Archives, Adolf LaMuth Collection
Contact: Ellen Schrader, (906) 337-3168 Have you ever walked along one of the trails at the Cliff mine, stumbled upon a crumbling masonry ruin, and wondered what it was? If you are one of the many people who explore the site, chances are you have come across a feature you can't identify. Join Sean Gohman as he describes recent archeological investigations to learn more about these features and this significant copper mine. The Cliff mine began in 1845. The first Keweenaw mine to pay its investors a dividend, the Cliff operated successfully until 1869, when production dropped for the first time. Different mining companies continued to work the lode on and off until 1931; the shafts were finally capped in the 1960s. Today, only remnants of this once-mighty mine mark the landscape: poor rock piles, masonry foundations, and wagon road traces provide clues to the how the men, women, and children of this mine lived, worked, and played. Gohman, a PhD student at Michigan Technological University, spent the summer documenting the site as part of an archeological field school, and will share what he and the other students discovered. This program will be held at 7:00 pm on Thursday, September 23rd, at the Eagle River Community Center, located at 5909 4th Street in Eagle River, Michigan. It is part of the Fourth Thursday in History program sponsored by Keweenaw National Historical Park. The Fourth Thursday in History series arranges public presentations on important aspects of Copper Country and regional history, including techniques for historic preservation. Presentations are scheduled in venues throughout the For further information, including specific directions to this event, contact Keweenaw National Historical Park at (906) 337-3168 |
Last updated: March 16, 2018