Michigan Tech Archives

08/20/2026

Happy National Radio Day! Here are some Thursday Throwbacks related to the airwaves!

08/12/2026

Last call to be added to our independent researcher list before fall! We offer this list as a service to the public for those unable to conduct their own research in the Michigan Tech Archives. Interested researchers can reach out to our University Archivist, Lindsay Hiltunen, with questions or to send a letter of interest. The deadline is August 31.

Last call before fall! The Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections is updating its list of local historical researchers for hire. We are seeking individuals interested in providing unaffiliated fee-based research services to patrons unable to undertake th...

06/18/2026

The Archives crew is on Quincy Hill today to celebrate Heritage Site Day with all of our fellow Keweenaw Heritage Sites. Stop by and say hi, grab some candy, and answer a trivia question to win some Michigan Tech swag! 🖤💛

06/12/2026

Happy Flashback Friday and happy Bridgefest Weekend! This photo from the Daily Mining Gazette Photograph Collection can no longer be snapped. It shows the old Ranger house which was constructed to be the protective enclosure for the once opulent car of the Copper Range Railroad. It was removed at some point to make way for utility enclosures. This image also features an amazing view of the Portage Lake Lift Bridge during the construction stage.

06/12/2026

Where Legends Pass: Stories from Under the Bridge! 🌉

The Portage Lake Lift Bridge has been a Copper Country icon since it opened in 1959, connecting Houghton and Hancock and welcoming everything from paddleboards to mighty freighters.

This photo from November 1965 captures the Henry Steinbrenner (2) passing under the bridge—a stunning glimpse of the past! Do you have a memory of traveling under the bridge or a favorite vessel that did? Share your story below!

📸 courtesy of the Ben Chynoweth Collection, Michigan Tech Archives.

06/12/2026

Beach days are back in the Keweenaw Peninsula! Captured in the mid-1900s, this photo from the Tech Archives Harold Putnam Collection shows a calm summer day on the shore. Do you recognize the location?

Drop your answer in the comments, and while you're there, tell us your favorite Keweenaw beach and activity, too!

06/12/2026

Who else remembers when class registration meant in-person enrollment, long lines, and plenty of competition?

With midterms behind us and finals on the horizon, today’s photo flashes back to October 1994, when students crowded the enrollment area to lock in their next trimester’s schedule. Rumors of line trades, bribes, and class swaps still echo in the University Archives!

In honor of scheduling week, we’d love to hear your favorite scheduling story in the comments—and don’t forget to let us know which class was worth all the effort to get into when you were a student!

📸: Courtesy of Michigan Tech Archives

06/12/2026

Snow sports and recreation are in full swing in Houghton! As winter carries on, Huskies have been lucky that there is plenty to do outside with the lakes and ponds frozen over—including ice fishing! 🎣

This image from the Daily Mining Gazette Photograph Collection from February '66 shows ice fishing on L'Anse Bay on Lake Superior. Did you ever go fishing when you were at Tech? What was your most memorable catch? Let us know in the comments!

06/12/2026

Summer is (almost) here in the Keweenaw! Take a look at summers past with Michigan Tech Archives.

The above photos are available courtesy of the Michigan Tech Archives and Copper Country Historical Images.

06/12/2026

To celebrate 10 years as University archivist for the Michigan Tech Archives, Lindsay Hiltunen '03 (BS Social Sciences), a current Humanities PhD student, is sharing one of her favorite images for this month’s historical feature—a picture of a young boy named David with his deer on the beach. Titled "Our Boy with the Deer," the image dates back to 1958!

Do you have a favorite four-legged friend to frolic on the beach with? Let us know in the comments! And if this Keweenaw location looks familiar, tell us where you think the photo was taken.

📸 credit: Michigan Tech Archives