Ishpeming Fire Tower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Ishpeming Fire Tower
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | Greenstone Ridge Trail, Isle Royale NP |
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| Built | 1961 |
| MPS | Isle Royale National Park Fire Towers MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 100006001 |
| Added to NRHP | January 5, 2021 |
The Ishpeming Fire Tower is a special fire tower located in Isle Royale National Park. It stands on a high area called Greenstone Ridge. This tower was built to help park rangers spot forest fires. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2021. This means it is an important historical place!
The Tower's Story
In 1936, a big fire called the Greenstone Ridge Fire burned part of Isle Royale. This happened soon after the island became a national park. To prevent future fires, the National Park Service built two fire towers.
By the 1950s, these first towers were getting old and falling apart. So, plans were made to build new, stronger towers. Construction on the Ishpeming Fire Tower began in 1961.
However, by 1968, the park's way of managing fires changed. The tower was no longer needed for its original purpose. Because of this, the Ishpeming Fire Tower was eventually left unused.
What Does the Tower Look Like?
The Ishpeming Fire Tower is on Greenstone Ridge. This is a noticeable rock ridge on the island. Tall evergreen trees and bushes mostly hide the tower. You can reach it by following the Greenstone Ridge Trail.
The tower itself is made from steel pieces. These pieces are bolted together. The tower stands about ten feet (about 3 meters) tall. It rests on four concrete blocks. These blocks are spaced about 14 feet (about 4.2 meters) apart.
A metal stairway goes from the ground up to the top. It leads to an opening for a balcony. At the very top of the tower is a special room called a cab. This cab is about 14 feet by 14 feet (about 4.2 by 4.2 meters) and 14 feet high. Its outside walls are made of steel panels. It has metal-framed windows on all four sides. The cab has a flat metal roof. There is also a metal entrance door on one side.
