This Haunting Road Trip Through Michigan Ghost Towns Is One You Won’t Forget

Much of the Upper Peninsula was home to copper mines, where entire towns were built from the ground up during the 19th century. By the turn of the 20th century, many of these communities fell into disrepair when the mines ceased operation. Others are still going, though they’re now sleepy burgs in comparison.

We know you love taking road trips, especially this time of year, so we put together one such excursion to be take in the Keweenaw Peninsula. The trip only takes a couple of hours and you get to catch a glimpse of many of the remains of these ghost towns along US 41. Along the way, you’ll also experience the vast natural beauty that makes up the UP. For your convenience, we’ve included a link to the trip so you have the itinerary handy. Have a look!

1. Mandan

This ghost town boasts hardly anyone left. The community was formed in 1864 with the founding of the Mandan Company. Mining proved to be difficult here and the operation fell into disrepair by just after the turn of the 20th century.

sara hattie/Flickr

Formed in 1854, the Central Mining Company built a company town for use by the workers. The community remained, along with its residential structures though it's a national historic district.

John W. Iwanski/Flickr

From 1898 to 1957, this smelter processed copper. Today, the mines are gone, leaving behind the hollowed out structures.

Wystan/Flickr

This town was named after a mining town in ancient Greece. Though not a genuine ghost town (it has a population of just under 2,000), it still remains a historical site/former company town for Laurium copper mine.

sara hattie/Flickr

Another small village that's not quite a ghost town, you'll still catch some haunting scenery of copper country on your way there.

Shawn Wrobel/Flickr

Founded as the site of a copper ore processing plant under the Calumet and Hecla Mining Company, a section of this village of about 1,000 has been named a national registered of historic places - thus solidifying its place in copper country.

Steven Isaacson/Flickr

This thriving mining town was once home to C&H Mining. Today, not much remains of that site.

Steven Isaacson/Flickr

With among the smallest populations on this list (there are about 60 residents), this was once home to the Mohawk Mining Company.

By Adolph F. Isler (1848-1912); dust cleaned up by Howcheng. - Keweenaw National Historical Park archives, Jack Foster Collection. Downloaded from http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/byways/photos/61352, Public Domain

And with that, we return to our starting place of Mandan.

Such rich history, wow. Love learning more about our state’s ghost towns? Click here!