[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 137 (Thursday, October 17, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1935-E1936]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  TRIBUTE TO KEWEENAW NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK ON ITS TENTH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BART STUPAK

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 17, 2002

  Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay special tribute to an 
important part of the economy, culture and education of the Copper 
Country of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the 
Keweenaw National Historic Park on its tenth anniversary.
  Keweenaw National Historic Park became a reality on October 27, 1992 
when Public Law 102-543 was signed into law by President George Herbert 
Walker Bush. The park's creation was first mentioned in 1971. The 
effort began in earnest in 1982 and culminated with the establishment 
of America's three hundred sixty sixth national park ten years ago.
  The twin purposes in establishing the park were preserving the 
nationally significant historical cultural sites and structures on 
Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula for the education, benefit, and 
inspiration of present and future generations; and to interpret the 
historical synergism between the geological, aboriginal, sociological, 
cultural, technological, and corporate forces that relate the story of 
copper on the Keweenaw Peninsula and the entire nation.
  Seventeen cooperating sites comprise the Keweenaw National Historic 
Park. Each separate site tells a different part of the story of the 
Copper Country's significant role in the American Industrial 
Revolution. Coupled with the area's natural beauty, the park draws more 
and more visitors each year.
  The park has been growing in assets and visitors year by year and 
during the tenth anniversary celebration the Keweenaw National Historic 
Park Headquarters will be dedicated. The park headquarters will be 
located in a one hundred five year old office building, that formerly 
served as the Calumet & Hecla (C&H) Company's general office building. 
Refurbishing efforts are currently underway at two former mining 
related sites, the C&H library, that will serve as the Keweenaw History 
Center and at an old union hall. These sites and the fourteen other 
cooperating park sites tell the unique story of the copper miners' 
(many from foreign countries) migration to Michigan's Upper Peninsula 
in a sociological and historical context.
  The idea of bringing curious historical visitors to the area has been 
accepted by the public and private sectors of the Keweenaw Peninsula. 
The coalition of area residents and businesses foresaw the educational 
benefits that accurate historic preservation would provide to residents 
and visitors alike. Commemorating and interpreting the history of hard 
rock mining in the Keweenaw has provided an economic boom to the area 
not seen since the boom days of the Calumet & Hecla and Quincy Mining 
Companies.

[[Page E1936]]

  Public and private cooperation is also critical to funding the park. 
The bill authorizing the creation of the park relied on private 
partnership funding with federal matching funds. This shared funding 
fosters the development of the park's cooperating sites.
  Mr. Speaker, preserving the past for the education of future 
generations benefits the area both economically and educationally. 
America's 102nd Congress recognized the benefits of establishing the 
Keweenaw National Historic Park. The area residents and businesses have 
and will continue to benefit economically, culturally, and 
educationally from the park for years to come.
  Mr. Speaker, on October 27, 2002 the Keweenaw National Historic Park 
will celebrate its tenth anniversary. I ask you and my House colleagues 
to join me in saluting, a great historical and economic asset to 
Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula as the Keweenaw National Historic Park 
celebrates the community's past while providing for the community's 
economic and historical future.

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