Keweenaw National Historical Park

Keweenaw National Historical Park Calumet Visitor Center
Fall Hours: Open Daily 10am-2pm
Oct 4-Dec 21, 2026. Unlike many parks, however, the U.S. Admissions and hours may vary.

Keweenaw National Historical Park was established to preserve and interpret the story of the rise, domination and decline of the region’s copper mining industry. Congress legislated that the National Park Service and the park's advisory commission partner with sites owned and operated by state and local governments, private businesses and nonprofit organizations to achieve this goal. The Keweenaw Heritage Sites program, administered by the Keweenaw National Historical Park Advisory Commission, is one aspect of this partnership. Keweenaw Heritage Sites contain significant cultural and/or natural resources and make a unique contribution to the copper mining story. Embodying stories of hardship, ingenuity, struggle and success, each site allows you to explore the role mining played in people’s lives here and afar. Heritage sites operate independently of the National Park Service. Sites stretch along the length of the Keweenaw Peninsula, from Copper Harbor to south of Ontonagon. Calumet Visitor Center at the Union Building
Visitors spend anywhere from a half hour to several hours touring the facility. On display are over two hundred artifacts and objects, many on loan from local heritage organizations like the Houghton County Historical Society and the Finnish American Heritage Center. There are also hundreds of photographs to be viewed throughout the exhibits, courtesy of the Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections and the photo collection of Keweenaw National Historical Park. There is also a visitor information desk where park rangers will answer questions and provide further insight into the exhibits. Location: Calumet, Michigan
Parking: On both sides of Red Jacket Road, which is located on the South side of the Visitor Center. There is also accessible parking in the public parking lot behind the Visitor Center on 4th Street. The Calumet Visitor Center schedule can be found on our website: https://www.nps.gov/kewe/planyourvisit/hours.htm

Heritage Site Information:
http://www.keweenawheritagesites.com/

Did you know architecture is all about durability, utility, and beauty? In the Copper Country, you’ll find breathtaking ...
09/25/2026

Did you know architecture is all about durability, utility, and beauty?

In the Copper Country, you’ll find breathtaking churches and civic landmarks made from Jacobsville Sandstone and imported brick—but that’s just the beginning! The region’s everyday homes, storefronts, farm buildings, and industrial sites like hoist houses, mills, and smelters all weave together a story of copper-mining heritage.

Next time you’re out and about, take a moment to appreciate both the iconic and the ordinary—every building is part of our history!

NPS Photos

Today is the first day of fall!Did you know? Many people visit the Keweenaw Peninsula and Keweenaw National Historical P...
09/22/2026

Today is the first day of fall!

Did you know? Many people visit the Keweenaw Peninsula and Keweenaw National Historical Park to enjoy the stunning fall colors, but over a century ago, the trees in this area would have been cut down to and be used to support the copper mining operations. Visitors a hundred years ago would have had a different experience viewing fall colors, compare the images of the Quincy Smelter below.

Where are some of your favorite places to see the changing leaves?

What are some things that signal that autumn is here for you?

NPS photos

We're back for another Quincy Mining Monday where we highlight the Quincy Mine Historic American Engineering Record (HAE...
09/21/2026

We're back for another Quincy Mining Monday where we highlight the Quincy Mine Historic American Engineering Record (HAER). If you're not familiar, "HAER is a long-range program for documenting historically significant engineering and industrial work in the United States." Included in this collection are a series of drawings produced in 1978. We'll use these drawings to take a deeper dive into the fascinating history of the Quincy Mining Company.

We've spent some time exploring Quincy's growth and the iconic #2 Shaft-rockhouse, but how were men or material moved in the shaft?

By the early 1900s, Quincy had plunged over a mile underground and needed more power while maximizing efficiency. The answer: order the world's largest steam hoist from the Nordberg Manufacturing Company out of Milwaukee. As you can see from the image, the total cost for the project (hoist and surrounding building) surpassed $370,000, equaling approximately $8.2 million today! This company showpiece flaunted a red brick veneer and green-glazed tile roof over top of reinforced concrete, and was the first hoist house Quincy didn't design and build itself.

Next time we'll take a deeper dive into the inner workings of the 1918 Hoist House.


Photos: The Library of Congress & NPS

INTERNSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT:Stewards Individual Placements, in partnership with Keweenaw National Historical Park, is seekin...
09/18/2026

INTERNSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT:

Stewards Individual Placements, in partnership with Keweenaw National Historical Park, is seeking an AmeriCorps service member who will support the park's Interpretation & Education Team on content and updates to the park’s digital media (social, app, web), print media (park’s newspaper, walking tour booklets, signs), and increased access to documents and media content. This member will also support with the development of an online 4th grade education program - collaborating with the park, park partners, and local 4th grade teachers.

The selected AmeriCorps Member will have opportunities to gain skills in writing, editing, photography, video production, NPS website content management and more! Additionally, the selected applicant for this position will have the opportunity to learn about visitor services and programing working with front-line ranger staff and volunteers in the visitor center; assisting with school field trip programs, and special events.

This internship is full-time for 26 weeks and eligible for an AmeriCorps education award upon successful completion of the program. The desired start date for these positions is 11/2/2026 but this can be negotiated if needed. Applications are due by 9/27/2026.
Details and how to apply are found at: https://ow.ly/mzhR50ZPanc

NPS Photo

Don’t be late! Kids today often take the school bus to get to class, but things worked a little differently in the . Fr...
09/18/2026

Don’t be late! Kids today often take the school bus to get to class, but things worked a little differently in the . From 1909 to 1944, the students living in the southern end of the copper range would take the train to get to school. On top of hearing relatives talk about walking to school uphill both ways, you’ll hear about how they’d have to catch a train as well!

Photo: Michigan Technological University Archives

You can help protect our history!Come out and help this Saturday, September 19, from 9 am – noon for the Calumet Industr...
09/15/2026

You can help protect our history!

Come out and help this Saturday, September 19, from 9 am – noon for the Calumet Industrial Core Volunteer Workday. Volunteers will start at Keweenaw National Historical Park Headquarters at 25970 Red Jacket Rd. Calumet, MI 49913 for a safety briefing and to pick up supplies.

The historic Calumet & Hecla Industrial Core is a key visitor attraction adjacent to the historic Village of Calumet. Maintaining a clean and well-preserved cultural landscape is an on-going task that requires continual monitoring and upkeep. Volunteers will work side-by-side with park staff clearing the overgrowth on historic buildings and picking up modern litter.

Visit Volunteer.gov for more information and to sign up: https://www.volunteer.gov/s/volunteer-opportunity/a09SJ00000PmZ0HYAV/calumet-industrial-core-volunteer-workday.

NPS photo/D. Dean.

Come work with us!Keweenaw National Historical Park, in conjunction with Isle Royale and Keweenaw Parks Association (IRK...
09/10/2026

Come work with us!
Keweenaw National Historical Park, in conjunction with Isle Royale and Keweenaw Parks Association (IRKPA), is seeking to hire one part-time staff member to work closely with the park's Interpretation & Education Team on content for the park’s website, NPS app, and social media. Additionally, the applicant selected for this position will have the opportunity to assist with visitor center operations and special events such as Christmas in Calumet! They will gain skills in writing, editing, photography, visitor services, education, and more! For more information about the position and how to apply, go to: https://irkpa.org/pages/winter-media-position

The Calumet Visitor Center moves to early fall hours after Labor Day. From September 8 through October 3, the Visitor Ce...
09/07/2026

The Calumet Visitor Center moves to early fall hours after Labor Day. From September 8 through October 3, the Visitor Center will be open daily from noon to 4:00 pm. For upcoming programs and further information, please visit the park website at www.nps.gov/kewe.

NPS photo/L. Webber.

Get ready to be inspired by the devotion and resilience of Copper Country mothers!This Sunday, September 6, Dr. Patty So...
09/03/2026

Get ready to be inspired by the devotion and resilience of Copper Country mothers!

This Sunday, September 6, Dr. Patty Sotirin brings the stories of a generation of mothers to the Calumet Visitor Center. Her illustrated program, "The Heart of the Homefront: Copper Country Mothers in WWI," compliments the park's interactive exhibit on local families during WWI and the WWI poster exhibit at the Carnegie Museum.

Free and open to the public.

NPS photo/Keweenaw NHP Archives. Childs Collection.

For this summer's Quincy Mining Mondays, we're highlighting the Quincy Mine Historic American Engineering Record (HAER)....
08/31/2026

For this summer's Quincy Mining Mondays, we're highlighting the Quincy Mine Historic American Engineering Record (HAER). If you've not familiar, "HAER is a long-range program for documenting historically significant engineering and industrial work in the United States." Included in this collection are a series of drawings produced in 1978. We're using these drawings to take a deeper dive into the fascinating history of the Quincy Mining Company.

Continuing to explore the inner workings of Quincy's famous 1908 #2 Shaft-rockhouse, we see the three types of skips, or large cars that carry men and materials in and out of the mine. Notice the evolution of moving rock up a shaft (from top left to bottom right). Hoisting technology moved from literal horsepower and one-ton kibbles in the mid 1800s to a massive 2500 hp Nordberg steam engine, pulling 10 tons of ore at approximately 35 miles per hour in 1920!

Address

Calumet Visitor Center, 98 Fifth Street
Calumet, MI
49913

Telephone

+19063373168

Website

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