Keweenaw National Historical Park

Keweenaw National Historical Park was established to commemorate the rich history of copper mining on the Keweenaw Peninsula of Michigan; the only place in the world where commercially abundant quantities of elemental copper occurred. It has the oldest metal mining heritage in the western hemisphere -- one which dates back 7,000 years. It was the site of America's first large scale hard-rock industrial mining operations. The copper mines of the Keweenaw were critical to the industrial development of the United States. Mine shafts here reached over 9,000 feet deep. The men who labored, and sometimes died in these mines, along with the women who nurtured them at home, gave the Keweenaw a rich mix of language, costume and custom. Their descendents are now working with the National Park Service to share these many stories with all the people of America at a national park which relies on partnerships with local communities in the Keweenaw. There are about 1700 acres within the two units of the park. Much of that area is, and will remain, in private ownership. Rather than purchasing all the land within the boundary, this park will own only limited areas where it will preserve key structures and sites and conduct its interpretive activities. In addition, there are a series of Cooperating Sites scattered across a one hundred mile section of the Keweenaw Peninsula. These sites, are cooperating with the NPS to provide interpretive and visitor services.

25790 Red Jacket Road
PO Box 471
Calumet, MI 49913
(906) 337-3168 - Headquarters

By Plane
Daily scheduled air service is provided to the Houghton County Memorial Airport (CMX) by Northwest Airlink (800)225-2525).

By Car
The Quincy Unit of the park is located just north of Hancock, Michigan, along U.S. Highway 41. The Calumet Unit is located in and around the Village of Calumet, Michigan, about eight miles north of the Quincy Unit on U.S. Highway 41. Rental cars are available at the airport and from auto dealers.

By Plane
Charter bus service is available through Superior Coaches and Delivery of Houghton, (906) 487-6511. Inter-city bus service is provided by Greyhound Bus Lines, (800) 231-2222. Cab service is available in the Calumet, Hancock, and Houghton areas.

Lake Superior controls the weather of the Keweenaw year around. Early summer can be quite cool, especially near the Lake. By mid-summer, temperatures
are usually mild, with daytime highs in the mid to upper 70's (F) and cool nights. September and October normally continue quite mild. Colors peak from the
last week of September to the first week of October; brief, light snows may occur, but the temperature quickly warms up, moderated by the waters of Lake
Superior at their warmest annual level. True winter snows begin in mid to late November; the ground is normally covered from Thanksgiving to Easter. Lake
Superior's gradually cooling waters create an average annual snowfall which ranges from about 180 inches to 250 inches in different parts of the Peninsula.
While creating abundant snowfall, the relatively warm Lake waters keep temperatures much milder than in surrounding areas of Minnesota and Ontario.
Spring is a season which is relatively foreign to the Keweenaw.

Here are some of the activities that are offered at Mount Rainier National Park.

• Auto Touring
• Biking
• Boating
• Camping
• Educational Programs
• Fishing
• Hiking
• Hunting
• Swimming
• Wilderness Area
• Wildlife Viewing
• Snow Skiing
• Backpacking
• Bird Watching
• Nature Walks
• Stargazing
• Kayaking
• Scuba Diving
• Snorkeling
• Cross Country Skiing
• Dogmushing
• Snowshoeing
• Snowmobiling

Recommended Activities