We’re starting this week off with another U.P. vacation adventure (as promised last week) from Cindy Conway and Michael Donnelly. They’re taking us to the Cliffs Shaft Mine Museum in Ishpeming, on their first visit there and one I wasn’t really aware of until she sent in today’s photos to share. Cindy said: “It was a great way to spend some time learning more about the UP’s rich mining history. Many of the original buildings remain, and we found the architecture quite interesting. The tour took us through an underground tunnel, and ultimately below the newer C shaft for a scary view looking UP. Apparently, it was very important for the Cleveland Cliffs Iron Company to project an attractive image of its operations. Thus the Neo-Egyptian revival style architecture on the 1919 shaft house, and it is an impressive 96 feet to the top of the pointed obelisk! This site was designated a Michigan historic site in 1973 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. There are also numerous outstanding mineral specimens at the museum. I’m including a photo of Hematite, which is what was mined here. It is rich enough in Iron that it could go straight into the smelter!”

To compliment Cindy and Michael’s photos and narrative, we have a video from WCMU Public Media. Destination Michigan – Cliffs Shaft Mine Museum. We get to go underground and learn more about iron ore at the Cliffs Shaft Mine Museum with Bob Clark, Board President at the Museum in Ishpeming.

Just a side note, if you’re looking for some Keweenaw Rock and Mineral events in August, check out this link from Visit Keweenaw: August Mineral Events in the Keweenaw

Laurium Manor Inn is in the running (again!) for Newsweek’s Best Historical B&B, and this time, they’re aiming for the top spot. If you’d like to help achieve that honor, you can cast your vote by clicking here: Newsweek’s Best Historical B&B, then click the black button that says: “Vote for the best historical B&B!”. That will take you to a pop-up window with the list... scroll down to “G. Laurium Manor Inn – Laurium, MI”, click on it, then scroll down and click the “Submit” button. The contest runs until August 14th at Noon ET, so we’ll have a reminder here each day if you’d like to vote. Thanks in advance.

Wow. I can't imagine what life had to be like back
then...and how hard they had to have worked.
Imagine a candle on your head just to see what you
are working on. Wow. Just Wow....

Way cool video too!

And again, thank you for the reminder to vote.

Life was definitely hard for these
guys. Nice pictures, but I can't make
myself be interested in these mines.
They intimidate me. I'd never go down
one of them. Hats off to them.

Awesome set!
And Cliffs Mine
really got the shaft.
Interesting historical
video too. I always
wonder how many
human extremities
were lost during those
mining operations.