Go See It
Barnes-Hecker Memorial Park: Go See It
Memorial park at the shaft of the 1926 Barnes-Hecker mine west of Ishpeming, with a plaque for each of the 51 men who died. Forty-one are still inside.
The facts
- Drive
- 30 min from Marquette
- Cost
- No admission is advertised
- Season
- Outdoor park, open since the October 17, 2026 dedication
- Hours
- Not posted
Address
County Road CL, Ely Township, just west of Ishpeming (no street number is posted). The mine site sits about 0.2 mi north of where County Road CL meets County Road 496 (Diorite Road): our map reading.
DirectionsMore detail
- From Marquette
- 20.6 mi via US-41 (Google Maps, read Oct. 19, 2026, to the mine coordinates)
- Cost
- The township has not confirmed this.
- Season
- The November 2 candlelight vigil (7 p.m.) is held here. Winter access is not posted.
- Hours
- A township park: confirm with Ely Township (elytownship.com; office Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.).
- From the Bridge
- 3 hr 6 min (184 mi) via US-2 W and M-28 W (Google Maps, read Oct. 19, 2026)
Memorial park at the shaft of the 1926 Barnes-Hecker mine west of Ishpeming, with a plaque for each of the 51 men who died. Forty-one are still inside.
Before you go
- 2,000-foot circle walk, trails to the lake where the cave-in happened, statues of the lone survivor and of a wife and child with a lunch pail, and a plaque for each of the 51 (WLUC, Oct. 17, 2026).
- A parking lot and a bathroom were in the township's plan (The Mining Journal, May 23, 2026).
- The site is where 41 men remain; the township has sought to have it declared a burial ground. Treat it as one.
Sources
- WLUC - They're smiling at us: Ely Township reveals Barnes-Hecker Mine Disaster Memorial Park (Oct. 17, 2026) Read October 19, 2026
- WLUC - Barnes-Hecker Memorial Park dedication rescheduled (Aug. 6, 2026): County Road CL, Ely Township Read October 19, 2026
- The Mining Journal - Ground broken at Barnes-Hecker Memorial Park (May 23, 2026): parking lot, bathroom Read October 19, 2026
- The Mining Journal - The Barnes-Hecker Mine before the disaster (Oct. 14, 2026): Nov. 2 vigil at the park Read October 19, 2026
- WLUC - Barnes-Hecker Mine Disaster memorial in the works (Nov. 17, 2025): burial ground goal Read October 19, 2026
- Wikipedia - Barnes-Hecker Mine Disaster (coordinates) Read October 19, 2026
- Ely Township - office hours Read October 19, 2026
- Google Maps - directions, Marquette to the mine coordinates Read October 19, 2026
- Google Maps - directions, Mackinac Bridge to the mine coordinates Read October 19, 2026
Verified October 19, 2026