National Historical Parks - Michigan

Keweenaw National Historical Park

6/11/2010 First stop, the Keweenaw NHP VC in Calumet. Picked up brochures, then continued on the main spine road (which is the Copper Country Trail Byway) to Delaware and the Delaware Mine. At first we were concerned that it was cheesy, but it turned out fine, although we only briefly saw another couple of people there. We watched a short film, then donned hard hats and walked down into the copper mine, one of many that dotted the peninsula in the heyday of mining. We walked self-guided underground for a while, checking out the interpretive signs about the mine construction and machinery. Climbed back up out of the very chilly mine and checked out some of the surface exhibits including the ruins of the lift house. From there continued east through Copper Harbor to Fort Wilkins Historic State Park. Here we walked around the very nicely restored and reconstructed 1870s fort. Most of the buildings had historic vignettes and info on fort life and mining.

The VC park sign

The Delaware mine

Ken and me in hard hats

Mine building ruins

The Fort Wilkins park sign

A view down the barracks

Ken and me at the Fort