Month: November 2025

Do you remember your first trip up (or down) Mont Ripley?

There is a hint of snow in the air, offering hope that Mont Ripley will soon be open. This vintage image from winter 1958 features Michigan Tech ski coach Fred Lonsdorf and his daughter Lynn on the slopes. A familiar face on the ski hill in the mid 20th century, Lonsdorf was respected by all who came to learn from him. His best advice: “Get out and practice!”

Did you ever take a ski lesson from Fred? Share your favorite Mont Ripley memories with us in the comments!

About the Archives

The Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections houses a wide variety of print, graphic and manuscript resources related to the history and culture the Copper Country and Michigan Technological University. If you would like to research in the archives, appointments are available from 1-5 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Appointments may be requested by calling (906) 487-2505 or by filling out the request form on the archives website. If you have any questions regarding archives services, collections, or remote research help, please reach out to (906) 487-2505 or e-mail us at copper@mtu.edu. The Michigan Tech Archives can also be found on Facebook (Michigan Tech Archives), Instagram (@michigantecharchives), and X (@mtuarchives).

Have you ever seen a rocket launch from the tip of the Keweenaw? Or hiked out to the site where it all happened?

Tucked away at the northernmost point of the Keweenaw Peninsula—accessible for those with the inclination to get out there—lies a memorial plaque where NASA rockets once soared into the sky. The Keweenaw Rocket Range, part of project WEBROC, was active through the 1960s until it was decommissioned in 1971 and the land was transferred to Michigan Tech.

But it wasn’t all high-powered launches, research, and data collection. Life at the rocket range and the Michigan Tech Keweenaw Field Station had its everyday moments too. This photo from the Michigan Tech Archives captures a chilly November day in 1965, with Lenard Williams and Mike Brian taking a brief pause to warm up a cup of coffee before getting back to their research. The image is one of several connected to the Keweenaw Rocket Range and project WEBROC.

Do you remember ever seeing a launch? Have you made the trek to the site? We’d love to hear your stories in the comments!

About the Archives

The Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections houses a wide variety of print, graphic and manuscript resources related to the history and culture the Copper Country and Michigan Technological University. If you would like to research in the archives, appointments are available from 1-5 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Appointments may be requested by calling (906) 487-2505 or by filling out the request form on the archives website. If you have any questions regarding archives services, collections, or remote research help, please reach out to (906) 487-2505 or e-mail us at copper@mtu.edu. The Michigan Tech Archives can also be found on Facebook (Michigan Tech Archives), Instagram (@michigantecharchives), and X (@mtuarchives).