How did the inhabitants of the Keweenaw Peninsula navigate the social and physical challenges of establishing a permanent community within the harsh environment of the Lake Superior copper mining frontier? Larry Lankton, a respected historian of industrial and labor history, utilizes extensive archival research and primary source documentation to shift the focus from the machinery of mining to the human experience. He argues that the settlers were not typical pioneers but individuals seeking stability and comfort amidst the volatile economic and environmental conditions of the mid-nineteenth century.

Historians and scholars of the Great Lakes region frequently cite this work as a definitive social history that complements technical studies of the mining industry. Experts highlight the book for its meticulous research and its ability to humanize the industrial development of the American frontier.