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Ishpeming is located in Marquette County. As of the 2000 census the population was 6,686. The population count was down from the 1950’s and 1960’s when the economically supportive iron ore mines had much higher employment level. The city was first settled in 1854 and it was known as “The Lake Superior Location”. The city was given the name Ishpeming in 1862. It is in the Indian origin and it means “high place” or “heaven”. In 1869 it was an incorporated village. A movie was filmed in the city, and surrounding areas, in 1959. The movie was called “Anatomy of a Murder”.

In 1867 the Cliffs Shaft Mine was started in the city. The doors were open for 100 years and then closed the doors in 1967. The mine business started in 1845 in Negaunee Michigan. Within the next couple of years, some more mines where started. Those mines are The Cleveland and Lake Superior Mine located in Ishpeming. The Iron Cliffs Mining Company started the Barnum mine in 1867 just north of the Lake Superior Mines. This mine was in successful operation for many years. The Iron Cliffs Company started some exploratory work in the 1870s. They used a diamond drill to take core samples; there were two holes that were started. The first hole was named “A” and was begun on March 15th, 1877. Eleven months later, February 15th, 1878 the drilling was stopped. They went 76 feet through the surface, and reached a depth of 628 feet no amount of ore was found. A couple of months after hole “A” was started another hole was started a short distance away. This drill hole was names “B” and was started on June 1st, 1877. There was 74 feet of surface material to go through. After digging an estimated 400 to 460 feet down, hole “B” was completed in July of 1878. Holes “A” and “B” soon became the mine shafts and the new operation was called New Barnum.

In the start on the 1880s a New Engine House and a Boiler House were contrasted, as well as a set of wooden shaft houses that stood on either end of the property along the shores of Lake Bancroft. A couple years later, 1886, the company name changed from New Barnum to the Cliff Shaft. The Cliff Mining Company merged with the Cleveland Mining Company in 1891, to form the Cleveland-Cliffs Mining Company. In 1919 George Washington Maher designed a 97 foot tall concrete Egyptian-revival Obelisk to be placed over shafts “A” and “B”. These structures soon became icons of mining for the company and the city of Ishpeming. 1950 the old mine needed to be modernized, so in 1955 the new shaft was placed into service. This was known as the “C” shaft, was in between shafts “A” and “B”, and was marked by a 174 foot tall structure. In the same year, shaft “A” and “B” were taken out of service.
If you are an outdoor lover, stay at the Squaw Lake State Forest Campground. This campground is a great place to go fishing. There are a total of o15 rustic campsites, and a boat launch is provided right in the campground. If you are not a person who enjoys sleeping with the wildlife, then you can stay in the Jasper Ridge Inn. The Jasper Ridge Inn offers whirlpool suites, business plus rooms, continental breakfast, an outdoor pool and spa, and so much more. The Inn is located near dining, recreation, shopping, and entertainment.
An event you are able to watch in Ishpeming is the Suicide Hill Ski Jump. The skiers will compete in a Super Tour Event in the series. The tournament is usually held on Sundays in memorial to Paul Bietila, the youngest brother of that world famous ski jumping family. In the past, skiers from United States, Finland, Germany, Japan, Austria, France, Norway, Canada and other countries came to participate in the ski-jumping circuit, earning points at each jump which is applied towards their standing in the race for the individual cup.

Suicide Hill is also the training site for ski jumpers involved in US Olympic Education Venter program at Northern Michigan University in Marquette. You are able to also cross-country ski. There are over 30 kilometers of ski trails and those in the Suicide Bowl are rated among the best in the Midwest. If you go to watch the ski-jumping tournament, you can bring your own skies and go skiing after the tournament is all done. The city is considered to be the birthplace of organized skiing in the United States and is the home of the National Ski Hall of Fame.

If you enjoy snowmobiling you can do that as well. Ishpeming‘s Country Village offers over 500 miles of trails right from their parking lot. If you come to Ishpeming for vacation and decide to go snowmobiling and you don’t have a sled of your own you can go to ACE Hardware and rent a sled. The city receives approximately 14’ of snow each year.
Since Ishpeming is surrounded in the summer there are plenty of mountain bike trails for the bikers to enjoy. There are 25 miles of trails with scenic wilderness and meanders from Ishpeming to Negaunee and then back. On top of all the trials for those who love to bike, there are plenty of trails, back roads, logging roads and many more places to go hiking. There are thousands of miles of places for someone to hike, while enjoying the scenery.
Beside all the skiing, snowmobiling, hiking and biking; you can go swimming, sit on the beaches, fishing and much more of enjoyment. There are many beaches that you can choose from. Marquette County is the home to over 80 inland lakes and beaches. Ishpeming has an abundance of superior fishing locations. Most of the sights include a public boat launches, which offers easy access to a variety of fish.
There is something to do Ishpeming every season and for everyone. In the start of the season changing from summer to fall you will be able to witness all the beautiful color changing no matter what you are doing, even if it’s just driving. When the seasons change to winter to spring you get to see the flower blooming and the beaches opening up to enjoy the hot weather that is on its way.

Hotels in Ishpeming, MI:

Best Western Country Inn Ishpeming
800) 937-8376

Jasper Ridge Inn
(906) 485-2378

Wonderland Motel
(906) 485-1044

Triangle Motel
(906) 485-5537

Coaches Motel & Trailer Court
(906) 486-9055

Days Inn
www.daysinn.com
(906) 225-1393

Super 8 Marquette
www.super8.com
(906) 228-8100

Holiday Inn of Marquette
www.holidaymarquette.com
(906) 225-0255

Comfort Suites of Marquette
www.tenaska.com
(906) 228-0028

Quartz Mountain Inn
www.quartzmountaininn.com
(906) 475-4865

Registering a snowmobile or need a trail pass? Click here

Check the latest trail conditions here

For the official Ishpeming, MI site, click here.