Adventure Mine facts for kids
The Adventure Mine is an old copper mine located in Greenland Township, near Greenland, Michigan, in Ontonagon County, Michigan. It was a busy place for mining from 1850 until 1920. Today, the mine has five shafts and is open for exciting tours from late May to mid-October. The Adventure Mining Company runs these tours, letting visitors explore parts of the historic mine.
Contents
A Look Back at the Mine
Early Mining Days (1850-1920)
The first company to operate the mine was also called the Adventure Mining Company. They started in 1850 and worked there until 1862. Then, in 1863, a person named Thomas Mason bought the mine. He changed its name to the Adventure Copper Company.
Later, starting in 1898, the Adventure Consolidated Copper Company took over. Mining stopped in 1908 because the price of copper was very low. However, it started up again for a short time during World War I. Finally, all mining stopped in 1917, and the mine officially closed in 1920.
The Mine Today (1970-Present)
After many years, the mine started offering tours again in the 1970s. Jack and Margaret Neph bought the mine in 1972. They gave tours from 1973 through the mid-1980s. Their son, John, and his wife, Winnie, continued the tours from the late 1990s until 2003.
The current company, also called the Adventure Mining Company, is owned by Matthew Portfleet. They have been offering tours since 2005, allowing people to explore the old mine.
Since 2009, a fun bike race called Miner's Revenge has been held at the mine every year. The race course goes both inside the mine and above ground. Also, in 2018, a movie called The Dwarves of Demrel was filmed right there at the Adventure Mine.
See also
- Copper mining in Michigan
- List of Copper Country mines
External links
- Adventure Mine Tours
