Mining in the Marquette area dates back to the 1840s, and is responsible for much of the development of Ishpeming and Negaunee. Some mining continues in the area, but most mines have been closed for decades. At the Republic Mine Observation Site you can see what was once one of the greatest producers in the country as you stare out at the expansive open pit mine. Several informational signs give a history of the mine and the area. We had first stopped by here during a winter/spring trip in 2022, and this June we returned to see what it looked like when not covered in snow and ice.

The sign that reads “Welcome to the Republic Open Pit Mine Observation Site” tells about the discovery of ore here in the 1840s and the beginnings of the Republic Iron Company in 1870. We then learn about how European immigrants helped this area prosper as the mine grew. The Cleveland Cliffs Iron Company took ownership in 1914, and the mine continued its success until the Great Depression. The mine would eventually re-open from the 1950s to the 1980s. “Removal of equipment during the late 1990’s and eventual demolition of buildings finally made the mine a thing of the past. It is hard to believe something so important and vital to the town and the steel industry has disappeared. We are left with a towering man-made mountain as the huge open pit fills with water. The history and memories of a mining town are all that remain.”

Another sign shows how the mine worked, with pictures. “As the depth of the pit increased, the primary crusher was installed in the 300-foot high wall (to your immediate left) at the bottom of the pit. Following drilling and blasting on the various benches, the ore was trucked to the crusher which reduced the ore to chunks less than 6 inches in size. A 2,814 foot conveyor then lifted the ore 647 feet to the processing plant. Within the processing plant the ore was ground to a fine powder consistency and put through flotation and filtration processes which raised the iron ore content to 65 per cent. Marble sized pellets were produced in revolving drums and hardened in revolving kilns at 2,440 degrees Fahrenheit.” Since the pit is now partially filled with water, the pictures here help you visualize what this area looked like when the mine was in operation.

A third sign has a map and lists some of the other mines that operated in the area like the Magnetic Mine, West Republic Mine, Erie Mine, and North Republic Mine. None of these were even close to being as successful as the Republic Mine, which according to this sign shipped more than 8 million tons of ore between 1872 and 1926.

One of my favorite signs was the “Life of a Miner” one, which helps give us a look at the conditions these men dealt with and how they were compensated. “Ore extraction in the 1870’s was pure manual labor. The ore was broken from the surface with picks, sledge hammers and blasting, loaded on horse or mule-drawn wagons and then loaded again on railroad cars……The number of men employed at the Republic Iron mine in 1883 was 650. In 1909 there were 350 employed and the number dropped prior to the 1928 closing. The average wage was $2.25 to $4.50 a day for many years, increasing slowly. However, in Republic the company offered good housing for $2 to $5 a month and provided a mine hospital (medical expenses were deducted from the miner’s paycheck). In 1879 there were 75 neat and substantial company houses available for the workers………CCI was considered a progressive company, as far as the welfare of their employees went, especially after William G. Mather became president. Safety programs were installed and modest pensions were offered.” The work was hard, but that was quite a good wage to live off of at the time!

We also learn about the history of the community and some other industries in the area from another sign: “The population peaked at 2,594 in 1890. Many fraternal organizations were created such as the Hibernians, Knights of the MaCabees, the Scandinavian Society, St. Jean de Baptiste, the Social Circle, the Dancing Club and the Daughters of St. George. Seven churches and at one time fourteen saloons were operating to satisfy the needs of faith and recreation.” In addition to the mine, logging and farming offered seasonal jobs in the area and helped the town grow.

A final sign dives into the re-opening of the mine and how part of the town had to be moved for that to happen: “In 1950 rumors circulated that the long period of mine inactivity was coming to an end. Cleveland Cliffs began a huge expansion program and reopened the mine to create an open pit mine producing pelletized ore. It necessitated moving about half of the homes in Republic to a site about 3 miles south and demolishing many others, including the Republic Central School. Between 1955 and 1973 about 90 homes were moved successfully.”

To get to the Republic Mine Observation site, head south on M-95 from where it meets U.S. 41. After almost seven miles, turn left onto River Rd. Follow River Rd. for a half mile (crossing the river), then take a right on Park City Rd. and drive through the campground to the parking area for the observation site. It is an uphill walk to the observation tower.