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: El Teniente Club, 2000Sewell - El Teniente Club
- Sewell, Chile: Approach by RoadCarretera del Cobre to Sewell
- Sewell, Chile: Near the old train stationSewell Train Station 2003
- Sewell, Chile: Colorful Buildings in WinterSewell Winter buildings 2003
- Sewell, Chile: Camarotes TodaySewell Camarotes Today
- Sewell, Chile: Guesthouse and TheaterSewell Guesthouse and Theater
- Sewell, Chile: The General Manager's VehicleSewell - General Manager's Vehicle
- Sewell, Chile: Crystal Room at the M.E.T.Sewell Crystal Room at the M.E.T.
- Sewell, Chile: Shift Change at the MineSewell - Shift Change at the Mine
- Sewell, Chile: Typical Tunnel Sewell - typical Tunnel in M.E.T.
- Sewell, Chile: Colon Crushing PlantColon Crushing Plant
- Sewell, Chile: Coya Hydroelectric PlantCoya Hydroelectric Plant
- Graphic Index
- Text Index