Welcoming Reception Cliffs Shaft Mine Museum Ishpeming, Michigan June 6, 2019
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The Cliffs Shaft Mine Museum is located in the old Miners’ Dry building. The mine opened in 1867 as the Barnum Mine with the “A” and “B” shafts. After new ore discoveries in 1879,it was called the New Barnum Mine. The name was changed to the Cliffs Shaft Mine in 1888. The mine was finally closed in 1967 when the demand for natural iron ore had given way to iron pellets which lowered the cost of iron and steel making.
Large samples of typical Michigan ore minerals are on display outside the museum.A large nugget of float copper from the Keweenaw Copper Country rests against the wall.Inside, exhibits tell the story of mining on the Marquette Iron Range.The Ishpeming Rock and Mineral Club Room exhibits an extensive collection of minerals from the iron mines.The gift shop proved irresistible to many of the MHAers.
A view of the 1955 headframe amid mine buildings dating from the 1800s.The Koepe Hoist located at the top of the headframe was an innovative German design that used an elevator-life system of pulleys and counterweights to reduce the cost of hoisting.This was the first such installation in the Western Hemisphere.
A view of one of the 1919 Egyptian revival concrete headframes at the Cliffs Shaft Mine. (HAER, Library of Congress)
An outdoor exhibit area contains a collection of underground and open pit mining equipment from local mines, including a haul truck from an open pit mine.
A staircase from the main floor of the Miners’ Dry leads to a series of tunnels that enabled the miners to reach the shafts without going outside.
Rails in the concrete tunnel floor were used to convey rail cars of supplies to the Cliffs Shaft.
A close up of an underground drilling jumbo parked in a tunnel.
Looking up the Cliffs “C” Shaft headframe toward the Koepe Hoist at the top.
Mark Connar rings for the cage at the collar (capped) of the modern Cliffs Shaft.
Historic wooden ore cars are displayed in an old shop building.
Bob Wolensky compares notes with resident blacksmith, Dave Arbelius, at the Cliffs Shaft Mine Museum.
(Above)Two antique Ford autos were spotted in the museum parking lot.It seems possible that the steel in their bodies was made from ore from the mines on the Marquette Iron Range.In later years, Cleveland-Cliffs partnered with the Ford Motor Company on a joint venture at the Humboldt Mine.
(Right) Johnny Johnsson displays a new addition to his mining artifacts collection purchased at the Cliffs Shaft Mine Museum gift shop. It is a clothes basket from a Michigan miners’ dry.
Photos Courtesy Henry Djerlev, Dawn and Johnny Johnsson, and Pat and Mike Kaas.
