The Commercial Fishing Museum

One of the first ships to arrive in Copper Harbor in the 1840’s arrived with two purposes. It was to drop off some of the early explorers looking for copper. But it also was to sail to neighboring Isle Royale to see if explorers who had been dropped there earlier had found a good site for commercial fishing. Thus began the related histories of copper mining and commercial fishing in the Keweenaw.

(Photo: In addition to photos of commercial fishing in the Keweenaw the museum has many related objects used locally including scales, net, ice cutting tools, etc.)

The Keweenaw County Historical Society Commercial Fishing Museum is located on the grounds of the Eagle Harbor Lighthouse complex in Eagle Harbor, Michigan next to the Rental cottage and near the Eagle Harbor Lighthouse, the Maritime Museum, the Keweenaw History Museum and our Lake Superior observation deck. In it one can see many displays of commercial fishing activities in the Keweenaw and also displays of the many families that fished from one generation to the next. The many photographs in the museum put a human face on the rough and risky business of commercial fishing on Lake Superior.

(Photo: The Commercial Fishing Museum also has many photos and a continuously running DVD with movies of actual fishing in Lake Superior.)

Visiting The Commercial Fishing Museum at Eagle Harbor

Hours & Admission- The Commercial Fishing Museum is part of the Eagle  Harbor Lighthouse Complex and is open from mid-June to early October.  The 2022 opening date is expected to be June 19th.  Hours for June, September and October are 12-5 PM.  July and August hours are  10 AM-5 PM, Monday - Saturday and 12-5 PM on Sunday.  Admission $8.00. Children and KCHS members free. 

Location- The Commercial Fishing Museum is located in the Eagle Harbor Lighthouse Complex, located on Lighthouse Drive. GPS: N 47 27.579 W 88 09.562, Decimal Degrees: 47.459650, -88.159370

Related Links-

• Finnish Fishermen of Lake Superior

News:

KCHS museum sites and cottage rentals will be open for the 2022 season.  Please see the site and rental webpages for specific dates and operation information.

The Keweenaw County Historical Society’s Board of Directors will follow the COVID-19 Epidemic Orders issued by the State of Michigan’s Department of Health and Human Services.  These public health orders are updated as needed, so KCHS may need to change access to buildings and events.

Please check back for updates.