Central Mine Historic District facts for kids
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Central Mine Historic District
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Street scene
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | Houghton Township, Keweenaw County, near Eagle River, Michigan |
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| NRHP reference No. | 74000991 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | June 28, 1974 |
The Central Mine Historic District is a special historical area in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It's located near US 41. This place was once a busy copper mine and town. The mine became a Michigan State Historic Site in 1958. The whole district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
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What You Can See Here
The Central Mine Historic District shows what's left of an old mining town called Central. Most of the town is now abandoned. There are about 20 wooden buildings still standing. Originally, there were 130 buildings here.
Many of the remaining buildings are two-story houses. These were company houses built for the miners. They have stone foundations and sloped roofs. Most also have porches. You can also see the Central Mine Methodist Church. It is very well-preserved and looks almost like it did long ago.
History of Central Mine
How the Mine Started
In 1854, a man named John Shawson found copper. He found it in an old pit that Native Americans had dug. This was a few miles from another mine called Cliff Mine. Soon after, the Central Mining Company was formed. Their goal was to mine copper in the Keweenaw area.
Mining began in 1856. The mine found so much copper that it made money in its very first year. This was very unusual for mines back then.
A Busy Mining Town
Between 1856 and the late 1800s, the company built many structures. They built over 130 buildings for the mine and the workers' community. At its busiest in 1868, the town of Central had over 1,300 people. Most of these people were immigrants from Cornwall, England. They came to Michigan to work in the mines.
The Mine Closes
Over time, the mining industry started to slow down. By 1887, the Central Mine was the only working mine left in Keweenaw County. In 1898, the mine finally stopped operating. People began to leave the town of Central. The last person living there year-round left in 1952. Today, some of the old buildings are used as summer homes.
Visiting Central Mine and Village
The Keweenaw County Historical Society now owns 38 acres of the old Central site. They run the Central Mine Visitor's Center. Here, you can learn all about the mine and the village. Some of the old houses can be visited. Others are being fixed up to show how they used to look.
