I've been building up quite the street cred in the Western UP for photographing history, exploring the deep woods, and managing recreational resources, such that I've gotten to know a lot of people in weird corners of the world. So when it came time to get into one of the most hidden away historical remnants in the region, I knew just what to do:

Ask and ye shall receive!

When my 2025 Ontonagon Redocumentation project came up, I made my focus for this year's project to take as many interior photos as I could. That included White Pine. I worked my angles, made some calls and emails, and eventually I wiggled my way in. A private tour was mine. Score!

It turns out that I was the first, and so far only, photographer to tour this site in decades - if ever. With only two caretaker employees keeping the lights on, the power plant and refinery were very quiet, yet still quite clean and well-kept. I was told that most of the plan could be brought back online in relatively short order if money and resources were lined up. It's a big if, which is why I needed to document the entire site before whatever chapter comes next potentially alters it forever.

No, I didn't get to go into the mine itself. Yes, I definitely asked. It's owned by a different entity whose insurance apparently doesn't allow for photographers to visit. Apparently they checked, which means I was SO CLOSE to getting in there too. Maybe someday.

There were a lot of photos from this one, too many to post here, so you'll just have to check out the full flickr album (see link below). I also don't have the memory or engineering prowess to remember every single thing I was looking at, but if you want to know I'm sure I can give you a reasonably close educated guess. Hey, it's my job to document the world around us and to explore the hidden corners of the UP, not extract copper from mine tailings shipped in from half a continent away.