The following is a list of Registered Historic Places in Keweenaw County, Michigan.
Copper was discovered in the Keweenaw in the 1830s; soon after, the US government built Fort Wilkins near Copper Harbor to maintain order in the area. Keweenaw County was split off from Houghton County in 1861, with the county seat in Eagle River.[2] The early government and commercial buildings in Eagle River are now a Historic District. Isle Royale, although split off into its own county in 1875, was reunited with Keweenaw County ten years later, and remains part of the county.
Like Houghton County to the south, Keweenaw County's history includes much reference to copper mining.[2] In particular, one of the earliest mines in the area, the prehistoric Minong Mine on Isle Royale, is listed as a historic district. In addition, the Central Mine and its Methodist Church are also listed on the historic register.
However, with the greatest Great Lake, Lake Superior, surrounding the peninsula, and muiltiple natural harbors, Keweenaw County's history is much more entwined in shipping and transportation. Eighteen of the properties listed--over half--were directly related to Great Lakes shipping. These include eight lighthouses in Lake Superior: Eagle Harbor Light, Gull Rock Light Station, Isle Royale Light, Manitou Island Light Station, Passage Island Light Station, Rock Harbor Light, Rock of Ages Light, and Sand Hills Light. In addition, the wrecks of ten ships around Isle Royale are on the Register: The SS Algoma, SS America, Chester A. Congdon, SS Cumberland, SS Emperor, George M. Cox, SS Glenlyon, SS Henry Chisholm, SS Kamloops, and the SS Monarch.
In addition, the listings contain three road bridges built in the 1930s: the M 26-Cedar Creek Culvert, the M26-Silver River Culvert, and the US 41 – Fanny Hooe Creek Bridge. Finally, the Houghton County Traction Company Ahmeek Streetcar Station, an interurban rail station, represents local transportation in the Keweenaw.
As the mining industry in the Keweenaw ran down, tourism in the area increased. This was evidenced by the increase in passenger ships (natably the SS America, mentioned above) and the construction of tourist hotels and summer cottages such as the Johns Hotel, the first resort on Isle Royale, and the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge and Golf Course Complex, built in 1933-34. Also in the 1930s, the roads accessing the Keweenaw communities were improved, with the addition of bridges such as the US 41 – Fanny Hooe Creek Bridge.
| [3] | Landmark name [4] | Image | Date listed | Location | City or town | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ALGOMA | June 14, 1984 | Southeast shore of Mott Island [5] |
Isle Royale National Park | The Algoma was a passenger steamer built in 1883. In November 1885, it ran into a blinding snowstorm, veered off course, and ran aground near Isle Royale. As the storm continued to rage, the ship came apart, eventually killing 46 people. The wreck of the Algoma was the worst loss of life in the history of Lake Superior shipping. | |
| 2 | AMERICA | June 14, 1984 | North Gap of Washington Harbor [5] |
Isle Royale National Park | The America served as a communications link for the communities of western Lake Superior in the early 20th century. Beginning in 1902, she ran three voyages per week among Duluth, Minnesota, Isle Royale, and Thunder Bay, Ontario, as well as numerous small communities in between. In June 1928, the America ran aground while leaving Washington Harbor, and efforts to salvage her were unsuccessful. The ship can be seen from the surface, with her bow in only two feet of water. | |
| 3 | Central Mine Historic District | June 28, 1974 | US 41 |
Central | Central Mine was an active copper mine between 1856 and 1898, and over this span the company built 130 structures for use by the mine and its workers. Around 20 structures, mostly houses, remain. | |
| 4 | Central Mine Methodist Church | October 15, 1970 | Old Stage Rd. |
Central | This church, completed in 1869, was an important community center for the mining town of Central. After the mine closed in 1898, ex-residents and their descendents held an annual reunion at the church that continues into the 21st century. | |
| 5 | CHESTER A. CONGDON | June 14, 1984 | Congdon Shoals on northeast end of Isle Royale [5] |
Isle Royale National Park | Originally named the Salt Lake City, when constructed in 1907, the bulk steel freighter sank near Isle Royale in Lake Superior in 1918. It was the first wreck in Lake Superior to be valued at over one million dollars. | |
| 6 | Church of the Assumption | March 15, 2000 | US 41, east of M-26 |
Houghton Township | Built in 1858 in Cliff as St. Mary's Catholic Church, in 1899 the church was dismantled and reconstructed in its present location in Phoenix. Masses were held in the church until 1957. The church is also known as the Phoenix Church. | |
| 7 | CUMBERLAND | June 14, 1984 | Near Rock of Ages Light [5] |
Isle Royale National Park | The Cumberland was a wooden-hulled side paddlewheeler built in 1871. In July 1877, she began taking on water after leaving Thunder Bay, and struck a reef near the Rock of Ages Light. The day was clear and dry, and passengers and crew were removed without difficulty. The wreckage of the Cumberland is intermingled with some portions of the hull of the Henry Chisholm, which sank later in 1898. | |
| 8 | Eagle Harbor Light Station | July 19, 1984 | Eagle Harbor |
Eagle Harbor | The original Eagle Harbor Light was built in 1851. The current structure with octagonal tower and associated keeper's house was built in 1871. In 1999 ownership was transferred to the Keweenaw County Historical Society, although the Coast Guard still operates the light. | |
| 9 | Eagle Harbor Schoolhouse | September 22, 1972 | Third and Center[6] |
Eagle Harbor | The Eagle Harbor Schoolhouse was the location where Justus H. Rathbone was first inspired to write the ritual which was the basis of the Order of the Knights of Pythias. | |
| 10 | Eagle River Historic District | September 13, 1984 | Roughly Front, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and Main Sts. |
Eagle River | The community of Eagle River was founded in 1843. The District includes most of the remaining structures dating from the early settlement of the community, including industrial plants, county buildings, commercial buildings, and private residences. | |
| 11 | Edisen Fishery | March 8, 1977 | Rock Harbor |
Isle Royale National Park | The Edisen Fishery is a collection of seven buildings making up a commercial fishery, constructed between 1895 and 1934 by local fishermen using easily available local materials and built using strictly functional designs. | |
| 12 | EMPEROR | June 14, 1984 | North side of Canoe Rocks, on the northeast end of Isle Royale [5] |
Isle Royale National Park | The Emperor was a freighter constructed in 1910, and at 525 feet in length, it was the largest Canadian-built freighter ever built at the time of her launching. In June 1947, the Emperor left Thunder Bay, laden with 10,429 tons of iron ore. Her course was miscalculated, and the ship ran aground at 4:15 in the morning on the north side of Canoe Rocks. The Emperor sank within 30 minutes, killing twelve crewmembers. | |
| 13 | Fort Wilkins | July 8, 1970 | Fort Wilkins State Park |
Copper Harbor | The U.S. Army first occupied Fort Wilkins in 1844, help with local law enforcement and to keep the peace between miners and the local Ojibwas. The fort was abandoned in 1846, and reoccupied only temporarily from 1867-1870. It is now a Michigan state park. | |
| 14 | GEORGE M. COX | June 14, 1984 | Near Rock of Ages Light [5] |
Isle Royale National Park | The Cox was launched in 1901 as the USS Puritan, a civilian transport ship. It was used by the US Navy in World War I, but returned to civilian service afterward. It sank in 1933 near the Rock of Ages Light off Isle Royale in Lake Superior. | |
| 15 | GLENLYON | June 14, 1984 | Glenlyon Shoals off Menagerie Island in Siskiwit Bay [5] |
Isle Royale National Park | The Glenlyon was a freighter built in 1893. Over its career, it was owned by many companies, and hauled both package freight and bulk cargo, as well as, for a short time, passengers for both U.S. and Canada. The ship ran aground on November 1, 1924, while heading for shelter in Siskiwit Bay. | |
| 16 | Gull Rock Light Station | July 19, 1984 | Gull Rock |
Copper Harbor | The Gull Rock Light Station is a lighthouse located on Gull Rock, just east of Manitou Island (Lake Superior) near Isle Royale in Lake Superior. The light was built in 1867, automated in 1913, and is still an active navigational aid. | |
| 17 | HENRY CHISHOLM | June 14, 1984 | Near Rock of Ages Light [5] |
Isle Royale National Park | The Henry Chisholm was a wooden freighter built in 1880, and was the largest wooden "steam barge" ever built in Cleveland, approaching the practical size limit for a wooden vessel of its type. In October 1898, the Chisholm left Duluth, Minnesota, towing the 220-foot schooner John Martin. A storm blew up and the Martin was cast off. After the gale lessened, the Chisholm spent the next few days searching for the Martin, and struck a reef near the Rock of Ages Light while attempting to enter Washington Harbor. Portions of the Chisholm's hull are intermingled with the wreckage of the SS Cumberland, which had sunk earlier in 1877. | |
| 18 | Holy Redeemer Church | March 16, 1972 | Western end of Center St. |
Eagle Harbor | Built in 1854, the church the oldest surviving Roman Catholic church in the Marquette Diocese. The church sat vacant for many years after the decline of the copper mining industry, but near the end of the 20th century was refurbushed and used for summer services. | |
| 19 | Houghton County Traction Company Ahmeek Streetcar Station | March 15, 2000 | US 41/M-26 and Hubbell St. |
Ahmeek | The Houghton County Traction Company was started in 1900 as an interurban line in the Keweenaw Peninsula. By 1908 the line was extended to just north of Mohawk, with stops in communities such as Ahmeek along the way. The company folded in 1932. | |
| 20 | Isle Royale Light Station | August 4, 1983 | Managerie Island |
Isle Royale | The Isle Royale Light (also called the Menagerie Island Light) is located on Managerie Island, at the opening of Siskiwit Bay near the southern shore of Isle Royale in Lake Superior. It was constructed in 1875. | |
| 21 | Johns Hotel | August 8, 1997 | Washington Harbor, on Barnum Island |
Isle Royale National Park | The Johns Hotel was established in 1892, and was the first summer resort on Isle Royale. There were once 16 buildings o nthe site, of which two, the main hotel and one cabin, remain. | |
| 22 | KAMLOOPS | June 14, 1984 | Kamloops Point [5] |
Isle Royale National Park | The SS Kamloops was a lake freighter that was part of the fleet of Canada Steamship Lines from its launching in 1924 until it sank with all hands off Isle Royale in Lake Superior on or about 7 December 1927. | |
| 23 | Keweenaw Mountain Lodge and Golf Course Complex | June 18, 1980 | Southwest of Copper Harbor on US 41 |
Copper Harbor | The lodge was built in 1933/34 using funding from the newly minted Civil Works Administration. Logs from the forest cleared on the property were used to build the structures in the complex. | |
| 24 | M 26-Cedar Creek Culvert | December 17, 1999 | M-26 over Cedar Creek |
Eagle Harbor Township | The M 26-Cedar Creek Culvert is a highway bridge located on M-26 over Cedar Creek, built by the Keweenaw County Road Commission in 1930. | |
| 25 | M26-Silver River Culvert | December 17, 1999 | M-26 over Silver River |
Eagle Harbor Township | The M 26-Silver River Culvert is a highway bridge located on M-26 over the Silver River, built by the Keweenaw County Road Commission in 1930. | |
| 26 | Manitou Island Light Station | July 19, 1984 | Manitou Island |
Copper Harbor | The Manitou Island Light Station is a lighthouse located on Manitou Island, off the tip of Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula in Lake Superior. The station consists of a skeletal steel light tower with associated keeper's house, both built in 1861. | |
| 27 | Minong Mine Historic District | November 11, 1977 | West of McCargoe Cove campground [7] |
Isle Royale National Park | The Minong Mine site contains prehistoric copper mining pits, thought to be as old as 4500 years. In addition, the site contains the remains of the Minong Mine, a 19th century copper mine that produced 249 tons of copper over its ten years of existence. | |
| 28 | MONARCH | June 14, 1984 | Palisade area on the north side of Blake Point [5] |
Isle Royale National Park | The Monarch was a passenger-package freighter built in 1890. In December 1906, the departed Thunder Bay for Sarnia in a blinding snowstorm. For some reason, the ship headed off its planned course, and that night it rammed at full speed into the palisade area on the north side of Blake Point on Isle Roayale. Miraculously, all but one of the crew and passengers were able to make it to shore. | |
| 29 | Passage Island Light Station | July 19, 2006 | Southwestern end of Passage Island, 3.25 mi (5.23 km) northeast of Isle Royale in northwestern Lake Superior |
Houghton Township | The Passage Island Light Station is a lighthouse located 3.25 mi NE of Isle Royale, in Lake Superior. It was constructed in 1882. | |
| 30 | Rock Harbor Lighthouse | March 8, 1977 | Rock Harbor |
Isle Royale National Park | The Rock Harbor Lighthouse is located in Rock Harbor on Isle Royale in Lake Superior. It was built in 1855/56, but permanently extinguished in 1879. | |
| 31 | Rock of Ages Light Station | August 4, 1983 | Southwest of Isle Royale |
Isle Royale | The Rock of Ages Light is an active lighthouse on a small rock outcropping approximately 5 mi (8.0 km) west of Isle Royale in Lake Superior. It was constructed in 1908. | |
| 32 | Sand Hills Light Station | July 27, 1994 | Five Mile Point Rd., north of Mohawk, Allouez Township |
Mohawk | Sand Hills is a formerly active lighthouse on the shore of Lake Superior. It was built in 1919 and decommissioned in 1954; the structure is now a bed and breakfast. | |
| 33 | US 41 – Fanny Hooe Creek Bridge | December 17, 1999 | US 41 over Fanny Hooe Creek |
Grant Township | The US 41 – Fanny Hooe Creek Bridge is a highway bridge located on US 41 over the Fanny Hooe Creek, adjacent to Fort Wilkins State Park. It was constructed by the Keweenaw County Road Commission in 1928. |
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