The Michigan Smelting Company was formed in 1903 by the Copper Range Consolidated Company, St. Mary's Mineral Land Company, Mohawk Mining Company, Wolverine Copper Mining Company, and Atlantic Mining Company. Construction of the Michigan Smelter began in 1903 and operations commenced the following year.

The first Superintendent (originally called the General Manager) of the Michigan Smelting Company was Frederick I. Cairns (1865-1944), who served until 1928. His replacement, and last Superintendent, was George P. Schubert (1883-1964), who resigned in 1948. During its entire lifetime, the Chief Clerk at the Michigan Smelter was William H. Rowe (1867-1959). For a listing of directors and officers of the Michigan Smelting Company, see the Appendix.

In 1932, the Copper Range Company bought out the Mohawk Mining Company's interest in the Michigan Smelting Company to gain full control of the Michigan Smelter. As a result, the company became the Copper Range Company, Smelting Department in 1933. A new Michigan Smelting Company was also formed but only to enable the issuance of warehouse receipts for copper held on behalf of other mining companies.

The Copper Range Company ended smelting operations in 1945. The Lake Copper Refining Company briefly operated the smelter under lease, before it was permanently closed in 1947.