Close up of the old mining buildings in
Kennicott.
Operating 24 hours a day from 1911 until
1938, the mine was immensely profitable despite its remote location
and $23 million construction cost. While a typical copper mine in the
Lower 48 yielded 2% copper ore, the Kennicott veins averaged 13% with
some up to 70%. The buildings are now being preserved by the National
Park Service.
