Catching up on our recent stay in Houghton Michigan. While there Bob toured the Quincy Mine with his friend also named Bob. Here is #2 Shaft building which sits prominently on a hill in Hancock. #2 Shaft reached 9,260 feet on the incline into the earth. We toured the 7th level of #2 Shaft.
The Quincy Mine was opened in 1846 as part of the first mining boom for the United States and was in operation for 99 years. Prospectors and speculators rushed to the Keweenaw Peninsula for the vast deposits of copper. The Quincy Mine is a National Historic Landmark.
To get to the mine you ride a cogwheel train, one of only 4 in the United States. The other three are Mount Washington in New Hampshire, Pikes Peak in Colorado, and Grant Park in Illinois which has been abandoned. Here we are on the cogwheel train going down a 34 degree descent. The Portage Lift Bridge is in the distance.
We then boarded a tram and entered the mine.
Our photos did not turn out too good in the mine, here is a car filled with rock that has been hammered and blasted away.
Everything in the mine adheres to the 54 degree incline of the volcanic rock layer that contains the copper. Not a very good picture but if you squint you can see the angle.
To get to the mine they miners used a man car which went down that 54 degree slant. Believe it or not 30 men rode this man car.
A hoist was needed to take the men down and the rocks and water up so the worlds largest steam hoist ever built was ordered and installed in the Hoist Building.
Working much like a fishing reel the hoist used a 2 ton cable to run the cars up and down. Here is the hoist.
Here is a map showing the 54 degree incline for #2 Shaft.
This was an incredible tour, one that Bob may take again if we ever visit the area.
Till next time,
Bob and Jo
That is a mine tour that even I would like to take. It is incredible how they were able to work that all out and I think the miners were nuts to work there. lol
ReplyDeleteThis was a good tour. We enjoyed it also. Hope the RV repairs are going ok. Looking for your blog when you say we are back in our home.
ReplyDeleteAmazing that they could cut mine shafts like that. Must have been the energy from the pasties.
ReplyDeleteWe are back in the land of the living. Going to try to catch up on everyone's posts.
ReplyDeleteWe did a mine tour many years ago. I got an entire new respect for those workers.