Community
Houghton
About Houghton
Houghton is the hub of the Keweenaw Peninsula, a hillside college town of about 8,000 on the Portage Canal, facing its twin city of Hancock. Michigan Technological University dominates the skyline, and the Portage Lake Lift Bridge links the two towns. The area grew up on copper mining, and Keweenaw National Historical Park tells that story in nearby Calumet and Quincy. Winters bring some of the deepest snow in Michigan and the Michigan Tech Winter Carnival. Our Houghton coverage follows city and county news, Michigan Tech Huskies and Copper Country high school sports, and things to do across the Keweenaw.
Top things to do in Houghton
- Tour the Quincy Mine hoist house and underground mine in Hancock in season.
- See the A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum on the Michigan Tech campus.
- Walk or bike the waterfront trail along the Portage Canal.
- Watch Michigan Tech Huskies hockey at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena.
- Drive US-41 north to Copper Harbor and Brockway Mountain Drive.
- Ski Mont Ripley, Michigan Tech’s hill across the canal.
Guides
Nearby on The Mitten Daily
Latest from Houghton
Sports · October 20, 2026
Michigan Tech wins its 16th straight Miner’s Cup, 56-33 over Northern Michigan, and heads to No. 1 Ferris State
The No. 14 Huskies scored on the last play of the first half and led 35-12 at the break; Tech visits No. 1 Ferris State on Saturday.
Community · October 20, 2026
Coat the Copper Country hands out free winter coats, boots and snow pants Oct. 23–24 in Hancock, and needs volunteers
Families can take two of three big items plus a hat and gloves. Kids’ gloves and men’s boots are among the biggest needs.
Community · October 20, 2026
Copper Shores puts $900,000 into nine Copper Country nonprofits, led by $237,623 for the Hancock Community Hub’s boilers and roof
Camp Josh, Omega House, the Copper Harbor Trails Club and Little Brothers also got capital grants.
Community · October 20, 2026
A Hancock parish’s fall fashion show raised $5,316 for U.P. Honor Flight, which now spends $135,000 per trip
The all-volunteer group flies U.P. veterans to the war memorials in Washington twice a year at no cost to them. Its president flew in from Escanaba to pick up the check.
News · October 20, 2026
Houghton County board, 4-1, urges Lansing to regulate license plate readers before any local Flock-style contract
The county has never used the cameras and the sheriff says it has no plans to. Commissioners struck language about federal immigration agencies before the vote.
News · October 20, 2026
Houghton County’s $28 million jail bond: 28 beds since 1963, about $5 a month for the average homeowner, and a Nov. 3 vote
The proposal would build a new jail and sheriff’s complex on West Sharon Avenue with room for at least 60 inmates. Here are the numbers on both sides.
News · October 20, 2026
Meeting at Michigan Tech, regulators give SEMCO a $33 million gas rate increase, about half what it asked
A typical home will pay about $2.80 more a month starting Jan. 1, plus a 19-cent pipeline surcharge that grows through 2031.
News · October 20, 2026
Houghton County’s transfer station is down to one truck driver as new fees take effect, and contractors want refunds
A driver shortage closed the Atlantic Mine site to contractor demolition loads for days, just as Oct. 1 increases hit. Commissioners are weighing pay and refunds.
News · October 20, 2026
Free Western U.P. Housing Summit Oct. 28 in Hancock will tour Housing TIF projects; register by Friday
Builders, lenders, local officials and residents can hear from MSHDA and walk Hancock’s Housing TIF sites. Registration closes Oct. 23.
Sports · October 20, 2026
No. 14 Michigan Tech football, 3-0 in the GLIAC, takes its best shot at No. 1 Ferris State and a 37-game win streak
The Huskies (6-1) are coming off a 16th straight Miner’s Cup. Kickoff in Big Rapids is 1 p.m. Saturday.
Michigan Travel · October 20, 2026
Two-time Grammy winner Terrance Simien brings zydeco to Michigan Tech’s Rozsa Center Nov. 13, with pay-as-you’re-able tickets
The Louisiana Creole bandleader, whose music is in ‘The Princess and the Frog,’ plays the Black Performance Hall at 7:30 p.m. Full price is $28.