Gogebic County

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Gogebic County

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Alligator Eye

Take the mildly challenging, one half mile hike to the crest of this prominent, scenic igneous rock outcrop which rises 300 feet above Lake Gogebic. The quartz veins found on this site were the focus of quarrying efforts by ancient miners, nearly 3500 years ago, who used the quartz for the production of tools.

Additional Information

Location: Near the South end of Lake Gogebic on M-64. Exit US 2 onto M-64, then North 6.7 miles: or 1.3 miles North of Gogebic County Park.
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Please contact (906) 575-3265 for more information.

Bald Mountain Interpretive Trail

Take a relaxed walk to the scenic overlook of the Gogebic-Penokee Range on the 0.8 mile interpretive trail. Identify the many species of trees that characterize the world famous Northern Hardwood stands of the Western Upper Peninsula and utilized by the commercial forest industry for more than a century.

Additional Information

Location: Sixteen miles Northwest of Ironwood off County Road 505. Exit US 2 at 2nd traffic light in Ironwood, then 13.2 miles North on County Road 505 to Power Road, then 3.4 miles on Power Road to Trail.
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Please contact (906) 663-4687 for more information.

Black River Harbor

This harbor served as the summer fishing grounds of the Ojibwa, site of the first serious attempt to mine copper by the French in the 1730s, the staging point for mining goods to Copper Peak in the 1840s, and a commercial fishing village in the 1920s. Five major waterfalls on Black River are readily accessible.

Additional Information

Location: North of Bessemer and Ironwood to Lake Superior. Exit US 2 at Powderhorn Road. 1.5 miles West of Bessemer to Black River Road, then 12 miles North to Lake Superior.
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Please contact (906) 663-4542 for more information.

Copper Peak

Copper Peak, a Michigan registered historic mining site and international ski flying hill, is the location of the world's largest ski jump. The observation deck, accessed by chairlift or shuttle and 18 story elevator, provides the highest, unobstructed, 360 degree vista in the Midwest, overlooking 2500 square miles of the Western lake Superior region.

Additional Information

Location: Ten miles North of Bessemer/Ironwood on the Black River National Scenic Byway. Exit US 2 to Powderhorn Road. 1.5 miles West of Bessemer, then proceed 9 miles to the North.
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Open daily 10:00am - 5:00pm Central Time mid June to Labor Day; weekends, Memorial Day - mid June and Labor Day - Fall Color Season. Historic tours, group rates, and extended hours May 1- October 20 by appointment. Please contact (906) 932-5300 for more information. https://www.copperpeak.com

Depot Museum

The railroad depot was constructed of Lake Superior Red Sandstone in 1892. It featured a one block long elevated platform designed to better serve business needs. More than one million people utilized the depot over a span of 78 years before closing to passenger travel in 1970 and freight traffic in 1981. It is currently home to the Ironwood Historic Society.

Additional Information

Location: Near downtown Ironwood, next to the US Post Office. Take business route US 2 to downtown Ironwood.
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Please contact (906) 932-0287 for more information. Open 8:00am - 4:00pm Central Time weekdays. https://www.ironwoodmi.org/historical.html

Gogebic County Courthouse

The courthouse was constructed in 1888 four years after the first trainload of iron ore was shipped from the Gogebic Range. The Lake Superior Red Sandstone building was enlarged in 1915 and totally renovated in 1974, including the original marble wainscoting and woodwork. The large historic circuit court room with its high ceiling and original furnishings were also refurbished.

Additional Information

Location: North of A.D. Johnston High School in Bessemer. Exit US 2 at traffic signal in Bessemer, then one block North.
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Open weekdays 8:30am - 4:30pm Central Time. Please contact (906) 663-4518 for more information.

Historic Ironwood Theatre

Completed in 1928, this unique theater was considered the finest show house in the Northwest. The entrance is characterized by its solid bronze doors and canopy, highlighted by its sparkling neon sign. The interior has been totally restored to its original Italian Renaissance decor. It is the crown jewel of theaters in the Lake Superior region.

Additional Information

Location: Downtown Ironwood at 107 East Aurora Street. Take business route US 2 to downtown Ironwood to Aurora Street, then right on Aurora one block.
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Please contact (906) 932-0618 for more information. Open 9:00am - 5:00pm Central Time weekdays. Historic tours. https://www.ironwoodtheatre.org

Lake Superior Cliffs Battle Site

The location of a major naval battle between the Ojibwa and Foxes in the mid-1600s. Before dawn a raiding party of 400 Foxes kidnapped four Ojibwa women from Madeline Island, were silently pursued in the fog by Ojibwa warriors, overtaken at the base of the cliffs and annihilated.

Additional Information

Location: Near mouth of Montreal River on Lake Superior. Exit US 2 at second traffic light in Ironwood, then 23 miles Northwest on County Road 505.
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Please contact (906) 663-4687 for more information.

Little Girl's Point

The site of the legend of the mythical Ojibwa maiden who became lost in the "Great Forest" on her wedding day. She was later seen here with her lover. For centuries this cape was a rest area for lake travelers between the Apostle Islands and the Porcupine Mountains - Ontonagon region. It is currently a multi-use recreational facility.

Additional Information

Location: On Lake Superior Northwest of Ironwood. Exit US 2 at second traffic light in Ironwood, then 17 miles on County Road 505.
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Please contact (906) 663-4687 for more information.

Memorial Building

This memorial to veterans of world wars was built in 1923. It features marble walls, terrazzo floors and hand painted murals of local mining history. There are 47 large, exquisite stained glass panels values at near $500,000. A bronze doughboy statue graces the lobby and the auditorium features "luminettes" of area history. The upper level has a pictorial history room.

Additional Information

Location: Near downtown Ironwood at 213 South Marquette Street. Take business route US 2 to downtown Ironwood, stay on Suffolk to McLeod, the left on McLeod two blocks.
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Please contact (906) 932-5050 ext126 for more information.

Plymouth Open Pit Mine

The Plymouth Open Pit Mine is 7600 feet long, averages 900 feet in width and has a maximum depth of 360 feet. The water depth is now approximately 325 feet. It began operations about 1913 and shipped out a total of 16,954,043 tons of iron ore before closing in 1952. It was the only open pit mine in operation on the Gogebic Range.

Additional Information

Location: Located between Wakefield and Ramsay on Old US 2. From the junction of US 2 and M-28 in Wakefield, travel South one mile, South through the business district of Wakefield, turn West on Old US 2, travel 3 miles to Plymouth Mine Road, turn right for about 100 yards. Alternate route: three fourths of a mile East of Ramsay on Old US 2.
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Please contact (906) 575-3265 for more information.

Presque Isle Scenic Area

The Presque Isle Scenic Area is part of the Porcupine Mountain Wilderness State Park complex, which contains 60,00 acres with two campgrounds and 90 miles of hiking trails. Spectacular waterfalls and virgin forests can be seen from wooden walkways on both sides of the Presque Isle River.

Additional Information

Location: In the Porcupine Mountain State Wilderness Park. North of Wakefield at Lake Superior. Exit M-28 one half mile East of Wakefield onto County Road 519, then 15 miles North to the Park.
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Please contact (906)885-5275 for more information.

Ramsey "Keystone" Bridge

This bridge rising 57 feet above the Black River was built in 1891 by the Chicago and Northwestern Railway Company, and is constructed of limestone quarried form Kaukauna, Wisconsin. A series of arches, each with a center keystone at the top, locks the entire structure. It is one of the few arch bridges of this type in existence.

Additional Information

Location: Located in Ramsay, Michigan. Exit US 2 between Bessemer and Wakefield at Ramsay Road, then two miles South to Ramsay and Bessemer Township Memorial Park.
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Please contact (906) 663-4542 for more information.