There were primitive copper diggings on Cerro Negro for centuries before an American mining engineer named William Braden started mining operations there in 1904 as Braden Copper Company. The following year, the Chilean government authorized operations and the mine was under non-Chilean control until the mine was nationalized in 1971.
Between those years, and the removal of staff down the mountain, Sewell was a thriving, advanced community. These photos, current and historical, will give just a glimpse of what living and working there was like.
In recent years, Chile proclaimed Sewell a national historic site, and UNESCO agreed, distinguishing the camp of El Teniente as a World Heritage Site in July, 2006.
- Sewell, Chile: Campamento Americano DetailSewell Campamento Americano
- Sewell, Chile: At NightSewell at night
- Sewell, Chile: Camarotes in Winter 1960Sewell 1960 Camarotes in Snow
- Sewell, Chile: The Gymn in 1964Sewell 1964 Gymn
- Sewell, Chile: Gymnasium and Ore BucketsGymnasium and Ore Buckets
- Sewell, Chile: The Concentrator and 45 ton incline in 1968Sewell 1968 Concentrator and 45 ton incline
- Sewell, Chile: Train Carrying Copper BarsSewell 1971 Train with Copper Bars
- Sewell, Chile: F.F.C.C. Sapos in 1968Sewell 1968 F.F.C.C. Sapos
- Sewell, Chile: The Hospital in 1968Sewell 1968 Hospital
- Sewell, Chile: Snow and Sunshine in 1970Sewell 1970 - Snow and Sunshine
- Sewell, Chile: Night, 1970Sewell 1970 at night
- Sewell, chile: View Down the ValleySewell View Down the Valley
- Graphic Index
- Text Index