Go on this tour and you'll be nothing but AMAZED. The history of what the mine workers experienced to help this country grow and prosper will leave you speechless. Being in the mine adds a lot to the experience... you're seeing and feeling what the miners felt... except they didn't have the lights like you'll have. I'll also say that our mine tour guide, a student in the Geology program at Michigan Tech. was one of the best tour guides I've ever had for any tour. He is not only passionate and knowledgable about Geology, he knew so much detail about the Quincy mine on really every level, as well as the experiences and way of life of the miners themselves. I was floored by not only all he learned in order to be as knowledgable as he is, but also how much it's clear that he loves everything about the mine and miners... all while being a student with this as only a summer job. I was excited to take this tour. It was much, much more than I anticipated. If you go, bring warm clothing... I was in shorts and a thin long-sleeved shirt with a t-shirt underneath. That was NOT enough. Dress like it's a brisk winter day. read more

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Such an interesting tour! You get to put on your lighted helmet and walk into the past, deep below the surface. Hope you read the rest of my review, but first I want to share something that pisses me off! When we go out to eat at a restaurant we tip the waiter for their service... but when I've been in these types of tours I can't believe how many people don't tip! Not even a couple of bucks! The people giving these tours work harder, share more information , and in this case, do it for almost 3 hours. Much longer than the waiter who brings you a cheeseburger... so stop being so cheep... you know who you are! (End of sermon)! Our guide (Cam) was spectacular! She had so many interesting stories and knowledge of a world in a time that is long gone... (thank god!) The days of this type of deep mining by hand or handheld drill are long over with. Not just because it's not profitable, but because it was inhumane! (Well sadly more because it's not profitable ) Many people worked here until they died of lung issues or were deaf from the drills. Be prepared for at least a 2 1/2 hour tour in the depths of a tunnel in a mountain. Don't worry the paths are safe and large enough that it's shouldn't be a problem if you're worried about claustrophobic conditions. It is cold however... it stays around 40 degrees all year. And it is a little muddy so don't wear your good shoes. If you love history, or think seeing a defunct mine would be interesting, I highly recommend this tour. And give your guide a tip for gods sakes! read more

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Loved it! Guide was a Michigan tech student. Started with a presentation. Option to go down into the mine - 1/2 our tour chose not to. Was interesting to see a glimpse of what working in the mine was like. It's cold in the mine - 43 degrees year round. Highly recommend - worth the $ read more

Our tour guide talked at length of how upset the workers were when the mining company added 2 person power drills. But the miners adjusted because they were still working in teams of 2. Then when they were forced to use single person drills, they felt isolated and feared for their safety. Yesterday when our LARGE Family group went, a couple of our littles make noise when our guide was talking. He asked that the children be taken outside. The children and their mothers were isolated from the group, outside alone at the bottom of a very steep hill, for over an hour. No one to keep them safe if an animal came out of the bushes, no bathroom or water. There was another child and its parents that were asked to leave the tour also. When the mothers called the front desk to ask about sending someone down to bring them back up, they said they don't do that. Talk about feeling unsafe and isolated read more

Very interesting tour of the Quincy Copper Mine. Liz was our tour guide and she was great. She was knowledgeable, talked loud enough for the whole group to hear, and kept us together in that cold and damp mining tunnel. Be aware that it truly is 43° in there, and you're in there for quite awhile! read more

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Brooke, our tour guide, was informative and fun. Such a cool, important piece of history to learn about in the region. If you're in the UP, get to Quincy Mine and take a tour! Gift shop has lots of neat things, as well. read more

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This is an incredible tour! Please do the full tour. Extremely informative, lots of great history and perspectives. Ben is easily one of the best tour guides I've ever had! My husband and I had a blast. Thank you, Ben for the awesome time!!!! read more

Amazing grounds and mine! Well worth a visit. The visit included a museum and walkable grounds. Their tour began with an informative video, getting gear, a tour of a building, a tram ride down the side of a mountain to the mine opening, and a walking tour 2,000 feet into the mine. Along the walk, our guide explained the history and nature of the mine. The tour guide was friendly and informative. Would definitely go again. read more

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What a great tour of the mine. We Learned so much. We are still talking about what we learned. Thank you to our tour quide Cam. You did an amazing job! read more

Quincy Mine Tours - Steam pulley engine - Tours Near Me - Hancock, Michigan

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My husband and I were on our way to a different mine when we saw these abandoned torn down structures. I was taking photos when I noticed the sign. We turned back around and decided to go into the store. They had a very large gift shop filled with a lot of souvenirs. I asked the gentleman at the counter if they were still doing tours. Unfortunately, the tour was going to be in another hour and a half. However, he told us we are more than welcome to tour the grounds. We could not go below ground, as that was restricted for the tours. He gave us a map as well. You can go on the website to see the pricing. It is $35 for a full tour or $15 for above ground for adults. Children that are 6 and under are free. I think that it would be such an amazing experience to go under ground for the tour. We saw some hard hats when we walked into one of the buildings. read more

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My girlfriend and I went on the underground mine tour today, and we both could not recommend it enough!!! It went from about 11:15 AM to 1:30 PM, and it was excellent in all areas. The guide was very kind and knowledgeable, with terrific history and views throughout the whole experience. The whole thing was awesome and the organizers do a great job. read more

Super cool tour -- the tour itself of the mine was about 2 hours long. It's about 43 degrees in there so make sure to bring a jacket! Riding the tram up/down the hill was fun for the kids (and kids under 6 get in free!) The gift shop is large and VERY dangerous if you like to shop lol. Not only area books and semi precious gems but a huge jewelry section. All reasonably priced too. read more

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Really great tour with lots of good info on the history and workings of the mine. Tim is an amazing tour guide! We appreciated his passion and dry sense of humor. Very good use of our afternoon. read more

Confession: We didn't do the tour here because of time constraints but we did enjoy a really cool time exploring the grounds and snapping some pics of the buildings and mining structures. It was a gorgeous October morning and the colors of the sky and changing leaves juxtaposed with the industrial rubble and structures was such a memorable experience. If you want to learn more without a tour their website has a lot of great videos plus info such as: * Mining operations have been closed since 1945, but the site is preserved as a cooperating site of the Keweenaw National Historical Park * The Nordberg Steam Hoist is the largest steam-powered hoist engine ever built. ....and more! So if you can't get the full experience because of Covid, time, or whatever, you can find tons of info at quincymine.com to supplement your visit! read more

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This was a phenomenal tour- we went Sunday, July 20th. Our guide was Ben- easily the best tour guide I have EVER had (not at the mine, but anything we have done). The way he speaks and what he focuses on is fantastic. It's not the sing-song voice so many use. He was very knowledgeable and my family and I thoroughly enjoyed it! read more

Even if you don't love history this is interesting and so unique!! I thought it was fascinating. I knew nothing about mining and I have a new respect for the hard work those men endured and what they created. The scope and scale of this mine is hard to describe. You've got to see it. And I'm so glad the quincy mine hoist association saved it! The machinery is like nothing I've ever seen. The guides are so talented at explaining it all in an interesting way. We were all listening and engaged because it is so incredible how those men went down and brought out the copper and how the advances over time changed everything. Knowing how far they went down is just mind boggling. Go see it for yourself! The grounds are lovely too! The trail into the mine can be wet and muddy so wear good shoes! You won't be disappointed! read more

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Excellent tour and guide. Guide was extremely knowledgeable about the history of the region and the mine. Highly recommend! read more

Quincy Mine Tours - Tours Near Me - Hancock, Michigan

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We were up in the Keweenaw Peninsula after a trip to Isle Royale. I had read a little about the Quincy Mine as I was planning the trip. My travel partner was very enthusiastic when I told him about the mine as a place to visit during our day and a half in the Hancock area. I thought it might be interesting. I was wrong. It was extremely interesting. It hits so many areas of interest: American history, industrialization, workers rights, labor, innovation, mining, geology. It was a fascinating grounds to explore. Many of the buildings are nothing but ruins, which have their own beauty. It brings to life the transient nature of our puny existence. Truly, I became philosophical as I wandered around the grounds. The mine tour was was really interesting. Brian was our guide and he was very personable and easy to listen to, and had so much information. Not just the canned tour information but he was able to answer the many questions put forth by the tour members. My partner is one of those people who when on a tour and the guide asks "any questions before we move on?", everyone, including the guide, looks at him. I dont think there was a time on the 2 hour tour when Brian had to say "I dont know". If you are claustrophobic, no worries. This is not a tour akin to a cave tour. You ride a tram down a hill outside where a adit (large man made opening) allows entrance into the mine. There is no overwhelming feeling of claustrophobia or closeness or that feeling of knowing there are tons of earth above you. The tour is also very accessible. One of the men on the tour had a stand up walker. Another tour member was 88 years old. There was a walk into the mine, about 200 feet and many stops along the way as the guide would point out different formations or talk about mine related events. My 12 year old was engaged throughout the tour. It was a worthwhile afternoon. The other adult and I consul have spent several more hours wandering the grounds and reading all the different placards, but the 12 year old was done. The pre teen did enjoy the gift shop and we spent more money than I usually spend in gift shops. I've been home for only a few days but have talked up our time in the Keweenaw Peninsula, the Quincy Mine, and the National Historic Park. We also spent a couple hours in Ripley, Michigan at the Quincy Smelter. The Mine Tour includes both options. We did the Smelter one day and the Mine the next. The Smelter was also very interesting. The tour ws not well attended, which is a shame. I think it doesnt have the publicity as the mine but it was also very informative. Our guide at the Smelter was Brandon (perhaps Braden?) and he had a distracting tone and cadence when he talked in what my partner, son, and I called his "professional tour guide voice". But when he forgot to use the odd voice, the cadence and tone were normal and not distracting. It seems like an weird thing to comment on, but if you get him as a guide, you will definitely know what I mean. read more

Great tour. I have been on this tour previously and Clayton was the best tour guide by far. His interest is in history provided a good perspective of the hoist building and equipment and the ubderground tour. I highly recommend this tour, especially by Clayton to gain an understanding of why so many Europeans traveled here to work in the mines in the late 1800's and first part of the 1900's. I also recommend you take time to walk through and listen to the video presentation in the No. 2 Shaft Rock House. It closes the loop on how men were moved in and out of the mine workings, how the mine was dewatered, and how ore was hoisted and dumped into bins on the surface. Went on the Smelter Tour today. Brendan did a great job, he was very knowledgeable and seem to have the whole tour memorized. I am sorry to see no Yelp reference specially for this tour. This is an oversight by the tour management. read more

This was a really cool thing to do while up in the Keweenaw. I felt like I learned a lot about the region as a whole, not just about mining! There is a significant price discount with a student ID, so be sure to bring yours if you have one! Our tour guide was excellent, and it was so interesting to learn and see what life was like in the U.P. 100-150 years ago. We started in one of the buildings and saw the steam hoist engine, and then took a little train-type thing down to the mine. There are no stairs in this mine; you just walk right in. The mine is sort of built into a hill, so the further you walk in the more underground you get, even without any stairs. As others have mentioned, it is 43 degrees in the mine year-round so dress appropriately, and it was very muddy, so expect your shoes and even your pants to get quite dirty. I did not expect mud to splash up on my legs, or to sink into the mud and get the sides of my shoes very dirty! The ONLY reason this gets four stars instead of five is because we only went in or even talked about the one building. The tour was already like two hours long, but they should cut out about half of the one building's lecture and instead take us around to the other buildings, with just a brief introduction to each one. The tour inside the mine itself was a five-star experience, but I'm a little bummed that I still don't know much about the rest of the stuff on the property. read more

Yelmer was a great tour guide, enjoyed discussing mining geology and engineering with him. His narration of the tour was informative and accurate yet in language easily understood by everyone on the tour. Highly recommend! read more

So glad we stopped here! Dillion was our tour guide and was exceptional! Learned at lot and was very cool to see. Wear shoes and pants that you don't mind getting dirty as you'll be walking through a mine (duh... But we had several in our group wearing sandals and socks who left completely coated in red mud ). It is also cold in the mine so layer up! But again, stop and take a tour you won't regret it! read more

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So interesting! Always great to get some history of what sustained a settlement. Makes you appreciate labor laws!

Such a great historical treasure. Really enjoyed the tour and our tour guide, Clayton, was very informative and engaging!

We were looking for an afternoon to-do to kill time and decided to check out the Quincy Mine. What started as curiosity about the "stuff on the hill" turned into a 2 1/2-3 hour tour full of interesting history and examples. Our tour guide knew the answer to every question and was very enthusiastic about the organization and history. Only regret is not taking more time to check out the other buildings. Really important history that outlines the rest of your experience and destinations in the Keweenaw. Gets a little chilly so west close toed shoes and bring a sweatshirt. read more

Quincy Mine Tours - Mine hoist - Tours Near Me - Hancock, Michigan

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If you have never been underground, you have no concept of the delightful education you are about experience! First of all, the mine head/rock building is a landmark all by itself. It can be seen for miles in all directions but especially from the south, coming into Houghton on US 41. This is a very worthwhile tour for everyone, and very educational for kids of all ages. (Even old kids, like me!) If you'd like to tour the mine, plan on a couple of hours, wear comfortable shoes that you don't mind getting dirty because they'll get a little muddy, and dress warmly because it will be about 40º in the mine. You will be provided with a jacket and hard hat for the tour. Be prepared to do some walking now and again. Your tour starts in the gift shop where you will purchase tickets. You might want to wait to purchase souviners until the completion of the tour. After you purchase a tour ticket, if you have time, you can explore the mine head/rock building on a self-guided tour. (You can explore it after the completion of the mine tour, in case you're close to your tour's time of departure.) In the hoist building, you'll be given an overview of the tour and you'll pick out a stylish coat and yellow hard hat to wear on the tour. After a short walk, you'll board a cog-driven tram to go down the hill to the entrance at the old 7th level of the mine. You'll transfer to a tractor-pulled wagon and enter the mine. A mile or so ride inside the tunnel will take you to a stope where copper was mined back in the 19th Century. You have no idea what "dark" means until the tour guide extinguishes the lights. (Of course, these days, so many people have cell phones glowing that the total darkness isn't as dramatic as it used to be!) After your return to the surface, you'll visit the Hoist Building and see the largest mine hoist in the world, built by Nordberg in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The drum is a cylindro-conical drum that is 30' long and 30' in diameter. The conical ends are each 10' wide and taper to a diameter of 16'. The conical shape allowed the wire rope to unwind as it wound, allowing one skip to go into the mine as another skip was retrieved. The wire rope weighed 27 tons by itself and could reach a depth of 9,700 feet into the mine. (The mine actually reached a depth of 9,260 feet on a 55º angle.) Several types of skips were used, to carry men in and out of the mine, to carry water out, to carry explosives and other supplies in, and to carry ore out. The hoist could pull a skip, loaded with 10 tons of copper ore, to the surface at a speed of 36 MPH.The hoist was only used for 11 years before the mine started to be unprofitable. Nordberg, builders of the hoist, was founded in 1889 by Bruno V. Nordberg. He had been working for E. P. Allis & Co when he left to start Nordberg. One hundred years later, in 1989, the company was sold to Finish conglomerate Metso. Metso announced in 2003 that it would close the Milwaukee operations, after it had closed Nordberg operations in Clintonville and Appleton. After 114 years of building some of the world's finest mining machines in Milwaukee, it all came to an end. Sadly, Nordberg has been reduced to the answer to a trivia question regarding the "Naked Gun" series of movies, but the glory days of Nordberg are on display here, in Hancock, Michigan. read more

Quincy Mine Tours - It's dark, it's wet, and it's an adventure! Remember, people used to go down here every day and work long shifts! - Tours Near Me - Hancock, Michigan

Bob told the story, folks. Old copper mine you pay about $18 to tour + an additional "surface tour" which means one guy takes you around the hoist room explaining bells and crap. The info was good, but not shocking. It was all you would imagine and no more. Worth it, sure. But mind-blowing? Nope. read more

What a great tour. This tour is adequately priced at $20 and you get about 1.5 hours of your. You start off learning about the largest steam hoist in the world. This followed by a tram ride, then a tractor ride into the 7th level of the mine. You will do a small walking tour. Being pants and a jacket. The mine is 43 degrees. They do provide extra jackets. Great tour! read more

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Did the mine tour this afternoon. It was very nice. Hubby and I were the only ones on the tour. We went down into the mine. read more

A great experience. They are doing safe practices as they tour you around what amounts to a step back in time. The guide was incredibly knowledgeable not only about the mine and history, but also about current mining practices. 'Missed a tram ride because of the pandemic, but it was the safe, correct thing to do. read more

The Quincy Mine can be seen for miles from Houghton and Hancock and I had been curious about it for years. So glad we finally took the tour. It was extensive and included a tram ride, time underground and a tour of the workings. Really fascinating and the guides did a great job. I have been on tours of other copper mines and the difference in size and depth compared to this one is astonishing. We went on the first tour of the day in the summer (on a weekend) and our tour filled up quickly. I would recommend making reservations in advance because there were groups that had to wait for the next tour. Also, the guide mentioned that the tunnel can get muddy during rainy seasons and sometimes they will skip that part of the tour, so that's something to keep in mind while planning your visit. Amazing views of Houghton and the Portage Canal Lift Bridge during the first part of the tour. read more

Very good tour with our very knowledgeable tour guide, Ben. Would definitely recommend this tour to everyone interested!

Love this place! The full tour into the mine is awesome. Eli was funny as a tour guide. The young lady giving tour of steam hoist knew her stuff. The store is great! read more

Great addition to our trip experience. The price gets you two tours and the mine and smelter, great educational experience, wear tennis shoes, and bring a jacket! Tour guides were funny and a wealth of knowledg! Highly recommend learning about our county's heritage! read more

On the last stop of our sight-seeing day, we headed to the Quincy Mine for a tour. Admittedly, I was kind of skeptical of the mine tour. I've been on mine tours elsewhere in Wisconsin, so I thought it would be your typical tour. I thought it would be some stairs down a mine where they vaguely tell you about mining. The Quincy Mine tour surprised me, the seasonal mine tourist! Upon entering the grounds, you're overwhelmed with large brick buildings which once housed their mining operations. The tour starts in the building with the hoist which was the catalyst for mining growth in the area. The hoist is massive and breathtaking in its size and scope. The building housing it was a showpiece for the company with its modern architecture and fancy touches. After learning about the hoist, everyone dons warm coats as we're headed down the hill towards the mine. The tour is on the 9th level of the mine which was once 92 levels deep before it was shut down. We boarded a tractor trailer and went into the mine around the Civil War era section. The guide gave an excellent explanation of how miners worked in the dark and the many challenges. Once we return to the top of the hill, we look around in the equipment graveyard at pieces described on the tour. You can also wander in another building where you learn about the man car and other equipment. Very cool. As someone whose been on mine tours before, Quincy Mine takes the cake! There's a lot to see and learn while on the tour. I've never been on a mine tour where there's multiple buildings to see the mining process up close. The tour guides presented the information well. They really know their stuff especially when asked a number of questions for curious tourists. It's well worth the money to experience the Quincy Mine. read more

One note to avoid any confusion, this is part of the Keweenaw Natl. Historic Park. I just can't get enough of going underground and seeing first hand what others called a workplace. Depending on the level which one worked, it was either cold and damp or extremely hot and humid. I will never forget the hoist room; everything about it from tiled walls to the HUGE hoist machine itself shouts extravagance. The bookstore/shop carried lots of interesting books related to mining; I highly recommend that you purchase the booklet "A Visitor's Gude to the Historic Quincy Mine." read more

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Quincy Mine is one of the local historic attractions. Visit the gift shop and you will certainly find something that interest you. Join the mine tour and go back in time to the 1940s. read more

Quincy Mine Tours - Quincy Mine - Tours Near Me - Hancock, Michigan

We were in the area for a few days and thought this sounded interesting for an activity. It was an historic event! The tour guides are very knowledgeable about all the goings on from the beginning of this venture. It is fascinating to appreciate the technology of the time and what hard work it was with the tools available at the time. I'm so glad they were able to save what is left and preserve it. It's great information to remember about the history of Michigan and the immigrants who came there for a better life. read more

I've been on both the Power house and mine tours. Your journey starts at the gift shop. The mining history is endless and it's all part of the National Parks. If you are interesting in what you might see, here is a taste of my favorites. https://youtu.be/rdjQUHEzE-M read more

$25 per adult is way too high for admission. The guided tour is not that long, and many interesting items on the grounds can be seen for free. I would highly recommend the Adventure Mining Co instead. read more