The Keweenaw Peninsula in Upper Michigan was a rich trove of native copper that was mined from the mid 19th century until as recently as the 1960s. The Indians would find native copper and beat it into useful objects. The area was the industrial and financial center of Michigan at one time. When the copper ran out that was the end of that.
Michigan Technical University is in Houghton. It was started in 1885 as a mining school. One thing well worth seeing on the campus is the A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum. It is very well done. We dawdled in there for a couple hours and really enjoyed it. Today's photo is part of the exhibit of fluorescent rocks. They were very bright.
Next we went up to Calumet which was the hub of activity during the copper mining days. Right now it is pretty much a town in decline. The population has dwindled to about 700. There is a National Historical Park facility there and another copper museum. That seems to be about it. There are shops for tourists as well. Not sure it will ever see a revival.
