Michigan Smelter, Industrial copper smelter in Houghton, United States
The Michigan Smelter facility contained two melting furnaces and two refining furnaces positioned seven feet below ground level near Cole's Creek.
Established in 1903 as a joint venture between Copper Range Company and Stanton group, the smelter processed materials from Champion, Trimountain, and Baltic mills.
The smelter represented a cornerstone of Michigan's copper industry, employing local workers and supporting the region's economic development through the 1940s.
The facility achieved a production capacity of 90 million pounds annually through its advanced furnace system and efficient railroad transportation network.
In 1905, the facility set a world record by producing 292,000 pounds of fine copper in seven hours using just one furnace and ten workers.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
