Ishpeming

Ishpeming is a city in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan situated in a valley surrounded by forest and residential neighborhoods. The landscape still bears traces of its mining past, with old industrial structures visible among the natural terrain and developed areas.

The city was founded in 1873 during an iron ore mining boom when Swedish immigrants came seeking work and helped build the community. Mining shaped its early growth and made it a major resource extraction center in the region.

The National Ski Hall of Fame displays skiing equipment, photographs, and artifacts that tell the story of winter sports in America. The location reflects how skiing became a cherished tradition here and continues to draw people interested in the sport's history.

Plan to visit both the National Ski Hall of Fame and the Cliffs Shaft Mine Museum in the same day since both are easily accessible within the town. Bringing comfortable shoes helps when exploring the outdoor mine shaft structures and walking between the different locations.

The Cliffs Shaft Mine Museum preserves four original shaft headframes that rise like towering skeletal structures from the mining era. Standing beneath these massive frames gives visitors an immediate sense of the scale of underground operations that shaped the region.

Location: Marquette County

Elevation above the sea: 429 m

Website: https://ishpemingcity.org

GPS coordinates: 46.48861,-87.66750

Latest update: December 20, 2025 12:33