Rare Steel Dam in the Wilderness

We explore the Redridge Steel dam and the remains of an almost 130 year old timber crib dam. These dams supplied water to stamp mills during a copper rush in northern Michigan. Like much of the Keewanaw Peninsula, that are industrial marvels. Both were built well over a century ago when roads didn't exist and a harsh wilderness dominated the land.

[@danielshires3580]

Completely and amazing and fascinating. I learned so much and just 15 minutes were both so amazing. Thank you.

[@marymcguffin9370]

I recently joined your channel big thank you for all of the Michigan history little known, I love in Michigan so it's great to see places I've never heard of , thanks again for all your hard work ❤

[@RestlessViking]

Thanks and welcome!

[@daleolson3506]

That dam has existed for all those years neglected. A testament to the builders

[@billhazard4946]

You were thinking like I was viking, such an engineering marvel in the day with all the steel and creet in the middle of nowhere!! Thanks for the ride Chuck, you out and poppy stay safe. 👍👍

[@chaos0852]

Keweenaw, my favorite place to visit, thanks!

[@caboogie]

Great video - thanks for taking us along

[@jeffradzik594]

Man I want to go on an adventure with you! Great job educating us and great videos.

[@RestlessViking]

Thanks Jeff!

[@alanjohnson2613]

As soon as I saw opening photo,I knew it was the redridge dam.

[@RustyorBroken]

Neato. If you look along the old railroad beds in the u.p. it should be relatively easy to find ore pellets that fell off the trains.

[@troymilks7342]

Didja get some cudighi???
When I was working on a job at the college summer of aught eight, the fellas sent me across the bridge to this little market what had it. Hoo wah! That was some spicy cudighi!

[@georgesmith8113]

Very interesting. I appreciate all the info!
👍👍😎

[@RestlessViking]

Thanks!

[@WilliamEricStone]

The first time I saw the Redridge dam, driving the back roads of the Keweenaw, I stopped in the middle of the road and said, "Damn what in the Hell is that"?

[@RestlessViking]

😁

[@WilliamEricStone]

@@RestlessViking Well and actually what I was looking for, wandering around those back and logging roads was the passage from Misery Bay to Lake Shore drive Ontonagon....And somewhere in there is 14 mile point. Which if I had a million dollars I would buy.

[@RestlessViking]

@@WilliamEricStone It has a new owner. Apparently, the new owner has plans for restoration. I took a boat a couple of years ago. Just didn't have time to wander the roads to find a way in.

[@WilliamEricStone]

@@RestlessViking Not surprised, as I would have bought it 5 years ago if I had the money. And no, I have nowhere near that kind of money. But dreams are big in the UP, to match the territory. People tell me there is no land route there, to which I say nonsense. I have a friend in Indiana that tells me she has been to every lighthouse on the Great Lakes, to which I also say nonsense. The woods that surround 14 mile point are some of the most rugged and remote in the Eastern US.

[@RestlessViking]

Not to mention 2 of the most remote lighthouse in the water that are many miles from shore (and 16 other off shore lighthouses. I also agree, there is a land route somewhere. There always is. . . maybe not by car or pickup. 😉

[@cherriecamilleri4022]

Dam #mybrotherscoolerthanyours

[@matthewgross6958]

My question… like other industries (gold mining), when the mill or mine ceases operation, why hasn’t the MI DNR required the company to demo the dams and do wetland reclamation. Michigan has time and time again let an industry rob her of natural resources by a company and held them hardly accountable for the scars left behind.

[@thomaskirchoff2027]

Those former owners are GONE just like wyo.blow and go leave it behind

[@GrumblingGrognard]

Because the mine-owners have the politicians in their pocket.

[@peterrudy766]

I Would Just Have To Cast A Line On Both Sides Of Both Of Those Damns!
Winner Winner Fish Dinner!

[@phillipgarrow2297]

You need to be careful wandering around up there there sick holes and abandoned mine shafts

[@nitetime395]

When I see graffiti, I usually see lots of trash. Give it to the yooper kids that they take there trash with them after they paint.

[@itsmalls4244]

Mate are you even from michigan 🤨 cause 7:37 where you said water used to be there 😐 you would know it still goes there considering we have floods. Did you not hear of the fathers day flood where they out out a warning cause the damn almost broke, it was flowing over the top. Where still recovering from it here and there, and the rocks are there to keep people from driving to the damn completely