Underneath the Italian Hall Site

A group of archeology students from Michigan Tech spent the last two weekends mapping the underground of the Italian Hall Memorial Site in Calumet.

Using ground-penetrating radar and a magnetometer, the team created a map of objects below the surface and compared it to known diagrams of the buildings at the location.

The information is key to preserving the integrity of the site as the Keweenaw National Historical Park works to maintain and improve the memorial.

Aware of the public’s sensitivities to preserving the site of the Italian Hall disaster, the goal was to do as little work as possible.

The study will benefit the park in its preparations for the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the 1913 catastrophe next year.