Mining tours opening for summer season

ISHPEMING — Grab your hard hat and get ready to walk the tunnels that hundreds of miners once did.

The Cliffs Shaft Mine Museum in Ishpeming will be opening its doors for the summer on June 14th. A visit to this museum isn’t just any typical visit, a tour is also given of one of the original mining tunnels.

The mining tunnel which is more than 6,500 miles long, is filled with original artifacts, revealing what a day in the life a miner entails. Joyce Smith, a volunteer at the museum can fill guests in on all the inside details because her Father was a miner there.

“Our museum is sort of hands on and has the personal touch.” Said Volunteer and daughter of miner, Joyce Smith, “when you come, you talk to people who actually either mined or know about or had family who worked in it. We always say this is a unique museum because it is an actual mine site. ”

The tours also take a look at what miners did above ground and the different carts used to transport the rock. The mine tours are offered to individuals of all ages and have a variety of exhibits on mining life along with a mineral room that displays specimens from the area. Anyone can stop by for a visit from Tuesday thru Saturday and the museum is always accepting more volunteers.