Jasper Knob, Cliffs Cottage and vicinity
Jasper is a kind of dense, opaque quartz with crystals too small to be visible. Michigan jasper is a deep red. This huge outcrop, locally touted as the world's largest gemstone, forms a dramatic knob with a good view on the southeast edge of Ishpeming. The stately wall around it makes it look like a public park. Actually it's owned by Cleveland-Cliffs Iron, which does not encourage visitation because of liability. The public is allowed on the property, though footing is difficult here. From downtown, take Division/BR 28 east to Jasper St., turn south. The Knob is in one block.If you turn west onto Bluff, you can see one of Ishpeming's most interesting houses, a big, fanciful Gothic Revival affair at 112 Bluff. Inspired by Sunnyside, Washington Irving's Hudson River Valley residence, it took advantage of a grand view of town, now obstructed.
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POINTS OF INTEREST
Tilden/Empire Iron Mine Tour. This highly populr tour of the vast open-pit iron mine and taconite processing plant shows industry on an awesome scale. ... more
Cliffs Shaft Mining Museum. See where miners dressed, walked through tunnel to cages to be lowered down in mine. Retired miners tell tales of work life, cave-ins, tragic accidents. Engaging mine model, artifacts, mineral specimens from Ishpeming Rock & Mineral Club. ... more
Lake Bancroft Park. In dramatic surroundings, you can picnic while enjoying good views of Ishpeming and its monumental mining headframes ... more
Jasper Knob, Cliffs Cottage and vicinity. Climb a huge outcrop of deep-red Michigan jasper (the world's largest gemstone) and get a nice view of Ishpeming's southeast side ... more
Country Garden Quilts. Formerly an anchor of the Michigamme cluster of shops, this nifty quilt shop on the highway features bright, upbeat fabric colors ... more
U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame & Museum. In a ski jump-shaped building, the story is told of how U.S. skiing developed from a minor sport brought by Scandinavians, enhanced by Hollywood, Sun Valley, and the illustrious WWII ski assault team ... more
Artisans Gallery & Clay Studio. A working pottery studio and quality crafts gallery showing U. P. pottery, painting, weaving, wood, and glass works ... more
Da Yoopers Tourist Trap & Museum. The roadside attraction from a popular satirical U.P. comedy group combines free outdoor exhibits like the world's largest chain saw and deer playing cards at deer camp with Yooper novelties, books, and a good rock shop ... more
Al Quaal Recreation Area. This woodsy 300-acre city park offers a 1,200-foot iced toboggan run and swimming on Teal Lake ... more
Hunt's Map Guide to the Upper Peninsula
• 13 detailed U.P. maps
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