Tour a Copper Mine, Upper Peninsula Michigan

Quincy Historic Copper Mine and Museum
Surface and Underground Tours
Quincy Mine Hoist Association,
49750 US Highway 41, Hancock MI 49930.
Phone: 906-482-3101

The historic Quincy Mine Site is located at the top of the hill in Hancock, MI on the Keweenaw Peninsula in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Once a flourishing copper mine, the Quincy Hoist Association offers both surface and underground tours of the Quincy Mine, a part of the Keweenaw National Historic Park.

Quincy Mine Museum Complex
Open: April 29th to June 5th
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 9:30 -5:00
June 10th to the end of October
Daily: 9:30 to 5:00

Tour Information


The Surface Tour includes a guided tour of the grounds, the museum, a video tour of the #2 Shaft-Rock House, built in 1908 and used until 1931, and the Hoist Engine Building that houses the Nordberg Steam-powered hoist engine.  Our knowledgeable tour guides will explain about copper mining and answer your questions about the mining operation of the Quincy Mining Company.

The Underground Tour includes all of the above and also takes you on the cog-rail tramcar for a ride down the hill to the entrance at the 7th level of the mine. A tractor-pulled wagon will enter a large opening in the hill and take you into the underground mine where there are exhibits of mining tools and equipment.

If you wish to ride the tram down the hill, take photographs, and not tour the underground mine, this can be added to the Surface Tour.

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Surface and Underground Tours include the following:


 Quincy Shaft-Rock House #2
The #2 Shaft-Rock House will catch your eye as you drive towards Houghton and Hancock as it stands majestically on the top of the hill. Built in 1908, the mineshaft underneath the structure inclines into the earth for approximately 1.7 miles. Tour the shaft house through an interesting video presentation.

The Museum
Located in the original 1894 #2 Hoist Building, the Museum contains many interesting exhibits and specimens on loan from the Seaman Mineralogical Museum. Be sure to see the 17-ton solid copper boulder recently recovered from Lake Superior.

Nordberg Steam Hoist
The large Hoist Building houses the amazing Nordberg Steam Hoist, the world’s largest steam powered hoist engine. The building was one of the first very large reinforced concrete buildings with no interior supporting columns.

Hoist House and Museum

Cog Rail Tram Car


Ride the Tram down Quincy Hill for a fabulous view of Houghton, Keweenaw Bay, and the Huron Mountains in the distance. . . A marvelous photographic opportunity.

The Cog Rail Tram is one of three in the United States and the only one in the Midwest.

Quincy Mine Underground Tour
When the tram arrives at the mine entrance, visitors will ride in a wagon pulled by a tractor about ½ mile straight into the side of the hill to Shaft #5 where you sill see early mine cars and learn how they worked. Your tour guide will explain how these miners extracted the copper from the rock walls.

Entrance (adit) into the Quincy Mine
One Man Drill inside the Quincy Mine

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2015 Ticket Prices

 
Full Tour
Surface & Tram
Surface Only
Children 0-5
*
*
*
Youth 6-12
$10.00
$7.50
$5.00
Adult 13-54
$20.00
$15.00
$12.00
Adult 13-54 (AAA Member)
$18.00
$13.50
$10.80
Senior 55+
$19.00
$14.00
$11.00
Senior 55+ (AAA Member)
$17.10
$12.600
$9.90
 
* = ticket required, no charge with paid adult
Group rates are available with advance reservations.
Call (906)482-3101 for information on rates and requirements.

Gift Shop and Tour Headquarters

Stop at the Tour Center and Gift Shop, once the Quincy Mining Company Supply House, to purchase your tickets and browse through the Gift Shop.

gift shop at Quincy Mine

 

The Quincy Mining Company was a major copper producer in the late 1800's, ceased underground mining operations in 1945, and eventually stopped processing copper in 1967. There are no operating copper mines left in the Upper Peninsula so plan to stop and take a trip into the past when “Copper was King”. The mining complex once housed several copper mines and a variety of buildings.

Restoration Projects


The first phase of the restoration of the Historic Engine House for the Quincy and Torch Lake Railroad was completed in the fall of 2010. The building and the #2 maintenance pit have been restored. Hopefully all four service pits will be completed in the near future.

The locomotice Thomas Mason
Quincy Mine EngingeHouse

Locomotive #5 and Locomotive #1 (The Thomas Mason) of the Quincy & Torch Lake Railroad are on display behind the Hoist House. Locomotive #6 has recently been returned to the Quincy Mine and is waiting cosmetic restoration.

Engine #6

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Restoration of a Mining Family Home

The “Martin House” a home where the Joshua Martin family lived from 1913 to 1925 is being restored as a "Miner’s Memorial". The building and the kitchen have been completed and the Quincy Hoist Association is now searching for appropriate furnishings

The Gift Shop and the grounds of the Quincy Mining Complex are open to visitors free of charge if you want to pick up a souvenir or walk abound the old mining complex. You will find a nice collection of items in the Gift Shop including mugs, jewelry, magnets, ornaments, plush animals, rocks & mineral samples, shirts, and videos. Books and maps are available to show how copper was mined and turned into ingots ready to ship to the lower Great Lakes.

Museum
Book & Cat: Sneakers Tours the Quuincy Steam Hoist

For additional Information visit our website at www.quincymine.com
Or call: 906-482-3101

Be sure to check out the newsletter page for updates on what’s happening at the Quincy Mine.

 

Keweenaw Peninsula Attractions
Lodging & Businesses in Houghton & Hancock
Guided Tours in the Upper Peninsula
The Upper Peninsula Traveler Home Page

The Quincy Mine properties are owned and operated by the Quincy Mine Hoist Association, Inc. A not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) corporation that operates for the education of the public and the preservation of the Mine Site.
Photos: Quincy Mine Hoist Association & Exploring the North
Top Photo: Mary Deloria
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