New Ways to Explore the Quincy Smelter

HANCOCK, MI – There will be several opportunities to explore and learn about the historic Quincy Smelter on Saturday September 10, 2016.

Included in the day’s events are: a paddle to the smelter, offered by the Western UP Health Department and Keweenaw National Historical Park; a photography exhibit at the Copper Country Community Arts Center; and site tours offered by the Quincy Smelter Association.

The smelter paddle will meet at 10:00 am at the East Houghton Waterfront Park near the Super 8 hotel. After a brief introduction to the smelter’s history, the group will paddle across the Portage Canal, explore the smelter shoreline, and then paddle back. Participants will receive a $5 coupon for admission or tour fees at any of the Keweenaw National Historical Park Heritage Sites, plus the Quincy Smelter. For more information contact Bridgette Durocher with the Western UP Health Department at (906) 482-7382 ext. 122.

Saturday also marks the opening of an exhibition of large-format black and white prints of the smelter. A reception will be held from 7-9:30 pm in the Kerredge Gallery at the Copper Country Community Art Center, co-hosted by the CCAC and Copper Country Preservation, Inc. The reception will include a gallery talk by the photographer, Gianfranco Archimede, an industrial archeologist who documented the smelter in 2002 for Keweenaw NHP. The exhibition is free and open to the public and can be seen Tuesday-Friday, 10:00-6:00 pm and Saturdays, 1:00-5:00pm. The Copper Country Community Arts Center is located at 126 Quincy Street in Hancock. For more information call (906) 482-2333 or visit www.coppercountryarts.com.

Tours of the Quincy Smelter will be provided by the Quincy Smelter Association on September 10 and October 1 from 11:00-3:00 pm. Tours last approximately one hour and cost $5. Since the smelter is a former industrial site, participants are advised to wear closed toed footwear.