Houghton-Hancock Travel Guide

Trek Zone

City

Facts and practical information

Nestled in the heart of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, the twin cities of Houghton and Hancock offer a unique blend of natural beauty, rich history, and vibrant culture. Surrounded by breathtaking landscapes, this region is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, history buffs, and those seeking a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.

One of the highlights of Houghton-Hancock is the stunning Keweenaw Peninsula, which stretches out into Lake Superior. With its rugged cliffs, pristine beaches, and crystal-clear waters, it is a paradise for kayaking, fishing, and hiking. The Keweenaw Water Trail offers a scenic route for paddlers, while the numerous trails crisscrossing the peninsula provide ample opportunities for hikers to explore the region's diverse flora and fauna.

For history enthusiasts, a visit to the Quincy Mine is a must. This historic copper mine, dating back to the mid-19th century, offers guided tours that take visitors deep underground to experience the life of a miner. The Quincy Mine Hoist Association also hosts a variety of events and activities throughout the year, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the rich mining heritage of the area.

The cities of Houghton and Hancock themselves are vibrant and charming, with a thriving arts and cultural scene. The historic downtown areas are lined with unique shops, art galleries, and cozy cafes, perfect for leisurely strolls and exploring local craftsmanship. The Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts hosts a wide range of concerts, theater productions, and other cultural events, ensuring that there is always something exciting happening in the area.

No visit to Houghton-Hancock would be complete without indulging in the local cuisine. The region is famous for its pasties, a savory pastry filled with meat, potatoes, and vegetables, brought over by Cornish miners in the 19th century. Several local bakeries and restaurants serve up this delicious traditional dish, offering visitors a taste of the area's unique culinary heritage.

Alternative names: Area: 4.7 mi²Elevation: 646 ft a.s.l.Coordinates: 47°7'18"N, 88°34'6"W

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MichiganUnited States

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Houghton-Hancock Top Attractions

Houghton-Hancock Attractions - What to See and Explore

Houghton-Hancock offers many attractions and places to visit. Here are the most important ones: Portage Lake Lift Bridge, Carnegie Museum of the Keweenaw, Michigan Technological University, Temple Jacob. Below you will find a complete list of places worth visiting.

Bridge
Portage Lake Lift Bridge
The Portage Lake Lift Bridge connects the cities of Hancock and Houghton, in the US state of Michigan. It crosses Portage Lake, a portion of the waterway which cuts across the Keweenaw Peninsula with a canal linking the final several miles to Lake Superior to the northwest. US Highway 41 and M-26 are both routed across the bridge.
History museum • Museum
Carnegie Museum of the Keweenaw
The Carnegie Museum of the Keweenaw in Houghton, Michigan, is a non-collecting museum that houses changing exhibits about local cultural and natural history. The building is so named as it was built with a 1908 grant from Andrew Carnegie. It served as the public library for Houghton, Michigan from its opening in 1910 until 2006.
Universities and schools
Michigan Technological University
Michigan Technological University is a public research university in Houghton, Michigan. Its main campus sits on 925 acres on a bluff overlooking Portage Lake.

Synagogue
Temple Jacob
Temple Jacob is a small historic synagogue in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. It owes its origins to the copper boom in the Keweenaw Peninsula in the late 19th and early 20th century.
Church • Gothic Revival architecture
Saint Ignatius Loyola Church
Saint Ignatius Loyola Church is a church located at 703 East Houghton Avenue in Houghton, Michigan. The church was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1977 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.
Museum • Natural history museum
A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum
The A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum, currently located on the campus of Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Michigan, is the official mineral museum of the state of Michigan and is a heritage site of the Keweenaw National Historical Park.
47°6'13"N • 88°31'12"W
Nara Nature Park
Nature and wildlife • Park
Church • Gothic Revival architecture
Trinity Episcopal Church
Trinity Episcopal Church is a Gothic Revival-style Episcopal church at 205 East Montezuma Avenue in Houghton, Michigan. It was designated a Michigan State Historic Site on July 17, 1986. It is the second of two church buildings to exist on the site; the current one replaced a wooden structure in 1910.
Universities and schools
Finlandia Hall
Finlandia University is a private Lutheran university in Hancock, Michigan. It is the only private university in the Upper Peninsula.
Library
Portage Lake District Library
Portage Lake District Library is a public library in Houghton, Michigan, which serves the city of Houghton and Portage Townships.
47°7'31"N • 88°33'50"W
Quincy Smelter
The Quincy Smelter, also known as the Quincy Smelting Works, is a former copper smelter located on the north side of the Keweenaw Waterway in Ripley, Michigan. It is a contributing property of the Quincy Mining Company Historic District, a National Historic Landmark District.
47°7'15"N • 88°33'13"W
Ransom B. Shelden House
The Ransom B. Shelden House is a private house located at 1304 College Avenue in Houghton, Michigan. It is currently used as the Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity House. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
47°7'10"N • 88°33'26"W
John J. Michels House
The John J. Michels House is a private house located at 1121 E. Houghton Avenue in Houghton, Michigan. It was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1989 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.
47°7'20"N • 88°34'0"W
Shelden-Dee Block
The Shelden-Dee Block is a commercial building located on the corner of Shelden Avenue and Isle Royale Street in Houghton, Michigan. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
47°7'12"N • 88°32'58"W
College Club House and Gymnasium
The College Club House and Gymnasium is an educational building located at 1416 College Avenue on the campus of Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Michigan. It is also known as R.O.T.C. Building.
Neighbourhood • Neoclassical architecture • Romanesque revival architecture
Shelden Avenue Historic District
The Shelden Avenue Historic District is a commercial historic district located along Shelden, Lake, & Montezuma Avenues in Houghton, Michigan. The district contains 43 contributing buildings in an area of 22 acres. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.
47°7'19"N • 88°34'2"W
Sheldon Center
Sheldon Center is the connection of a number of restaurants, coffeehouses, stores and other businesses along Sheldon Avenue, some of its sidestreets, and Lake Street in Houghton, Michigan, United States, by means of doors between them so they can be accessed without going outside.
47°7'14"N • 88°34'15"W
Houghton County Courthouse
The Houghton County Courthouse is a government building located at 401 E. Houghton Street in Houghton, Michigan. It was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1974 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.
Neighbourhood
Pryor's Location
Pryor's Location is situated on the Portage Lake Shipping Canal in Michigan, United States. Very little remains of this small settlement but a sign at the intersection of Lake Avenue and Lakeshore Drive in Houghton, Michigan, into which it has been incorporated.

Day trips

Houghton-Hancock – popular in the area (distance from the center)

In the vicinity of Houghton-Hancock, it's worth seeing attractions such as: Delaware Mine (Copper Harbor), Quincy Mine No. 2 Shaft Hoist House (Hancock), The Calumet Theatre (Calumet).

30 milesNE
Museum
Delaware Mine, Copper Harbor
The Delaware Mine is located off U.S. Highway 41, 12 miles in Grant Township, Keweenaw County, south of Copper Harbor, Michigan and is a Keweenaw Heritage Site. The Delaware Copper Mine provides tours of one of the oldest copper mines in the Keweenaw, dating back to 1847. The mine had five shafts, with the deepest reaching 1,400 feet.
1 miN
Museum
Quincy Mine No. 2 Shaft Hoist House, Hancock
The Quincy Mine No. 2 Shaft Hoist House is an industrial building located north of Hancock, Michigan along US Highway 41 within the Quincy Mining Company Historic District.
10 milesNE
Concerts and shows, Historical place, Theater
The Calumet Theatre, Calumet
The Calumet Theatre is a historic theatre located at 340 Sixth Street in the town of Calumet, Michigan. It is also known as the Calumet Opera House or the Calumet Civic Auditorium. It is integral to, but a separate unit of, the Calumet municipal building.
39 milesNE
Motel, Golf, Restaurant
Keweenaw Mountain Lodge, Copper Harbor
The Keweenaw Mountain Lodge and Golf Course Complex is a resort located near Copper Harbor, Michigan. It was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1976 listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970, and open to the public.
39 milesNE
Cemetery
Copper Harbor Cemetery, Copper Harbor
The Copper Harbor Cemetery is a cemetery located on US 41 west of M-26 in Copper Harbor, Michigan. It was listed as a Michigan State Historic Site on January 8, 1981. Burials occurred from 1853 through 1926. Twelve graves are marked with dates prior to 1900.

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What are the top attractions to visit in Houghton-Hancock?

The top attractions to visit in Houghton-Hancock are: