In Upper Michigan even after the leaves are mostly fallen and what remains is the burnt hues, there is still much beauty to enjoy. Our archive photos prove that today, starting with one from Donn de Yampert back in 2002. He was on the Houghton side of the Portage Canal and snapped this shot of the historical Ripley Smelter buildings, surrounded by late fall colors.

In 2012, Brenda Leigh snapped a photo of the fall decorations she had out in her yard, including a number of pumpkins and a well dressed scarecrow. The leaves in the yard add to the Autumn feel in the photo.

Mary Schmitt took her grandkids on the Lake Linden & Torch Lake Railroad at the Houghton County Museum campus back in 2014, for the annual Ghost Train fun complete with kids and adults in costumes. This a great shot with the smoke from the train shooting straight into the air, looking like it’s touching the clouds in the sky!

Our 2002 memory has been updated, with major improvements to become a part of the national historic park. Today’s video from Devin Leonarduzzi tracks its progress.

Nat and I took a tour of the Smelter this past August and it was fabulous. If anyone is in the area, I highly recommend it.

Wish I could check it out, but this video will suffice.

I wholeheartedly second the recommendation of the smelter tour. I took the tour a couple years ago and created this photo album.

Quincy Smelter Tour