Map Showing the Location of the Keweenaw Central R.R. and Mineral Lands of the Keweenaw Copper Co.

Early 20th century land claims in Michigan’s Copper Country.

This rare map, dated 1906, shows the lines of the Keweenaw Central Railroad in Michigan’s far Upper Peninsula. The remote area was rich in copper deposits and the Keweenaw Central was organized by the Keweenaw Copper Company in 1905 to access numerous operational mines and prospective claims. The new company took over operations of the Lac La Belle & Calumet Railroad, converted the line to standard gauge, and ultimately extended the route to connect Mandan in the north with Calumet in the south.

The image, signed in the lower right by James Buell Power, presents the railroad in an optimistic light early in its operational history. Bright red lines indicate completed track, while dotted lines show those proposed or under construction; including an ambitious but ultimately unrealized extension to the coastline in Bete Gris Bay. Land claims are highlighted in a variety of colors and numerous mines dot the area along either side of the track.

Unfortunately, the high concentrations of copper-bearing ore weren’t enough to ensure profitability for the line. The Keweenaw Central Railroad failed in 1918 and much of the trackage was ripped up the following year, though a short segment was briefly resurrected as a tourist attraction in the late 1960s. The map is scarce on the market and in institutional collections.

As of May 2025, there are only three known examples in WorldCat – the Detroit Public Library and two at the University of Michigan.

Sources: OCLC# 32227806; Michigan Railroads; Michigan Tech University