Keweenaw National Historical Park Advisory Commission acquires Quincy Smelting Works

View of the historic Quincy Smelting Works from the Portage Lift Bridge. (Keweenaw Now file photo)

CALUMET -- The Keweenaw National Historical Park Advisory Commission is pleased to announce its acquisition of the historic Quincy Smelting Works. The Advisory Commission finalized the purchase from Franklin Township TODAY, Aug. 29, 2014.

Built by the Quincy Mining Company in 1898, the Quincy Smelting Works is the most complete late-nineteenth century copper smelting facility left in the world. The remaining industrial structures and equipment provide a unique opportunity to explore an important part of the copper production story.

Although the property deteriorated in the decades after its closing, recent efforts by Franklin Township, the National Park Service, and the Environmental Protection Agency have helped make the site safer for public tours. By acquiring the property from Franklin Township, the Advisory Commission is now poised to work with the National Park Service and the Quincy Smelter Association to further the preservation and interpretation of this important piece of our national history. Ultimately, the Commission intends to transfer the property to the National Park Service to ensure its long-term protection.

The Advisory Commission would like to thank Franklin Township for its stewardship of the smelter property over the last fifteen years, and the Quincy Smelter Association for its continued efforts to share the story of the smelter with the public. The Commission would also like to thank the Americana Foundation and the many corporate and individual donors who helped make this purchase possible.