Caretakers of the past, stewards of the future
The Maritime Museum
(Photo: The Maritime Museum has several displays of navigational aids and ship models.) The story of copper mining in the Keweenaw has always been intertwined with that of Great Lakes shipping. From the early 1840s through almost 1900, the only way to get copper out of the mines in Keweenaw County was by ship. In the early days, the only way to get into the towns of the Keweenaw was by ship. Early travelers had to anchor offshore and take small boats to reach the shore. Soon large docks were built in towns such as Copper Harbor, Eagle Harbor and Eagle River to provide more economical ways of shipping. Light stations were built to guide vessels around the Keweenaw and the reefs that surround her to provide safe passage to the towns of Duluth, Twin Harbors, etc. While many of these stations have closed, one can still see vessels off the coast of the Keweenaw carrying cargo up and down bound on Lake Superior.
(Photo: The Observation Deck near the Maritime Museum offers magnificent views of Lake Superior.)
(Photo: The Maritime Museum has several artifacts from the U.S.C.G. Cutter Mesquite.) Visiting The Maritime Museum at Eagle Harbor Hours & Admission- The Maritime Museum is part of the Eagle Harbor Lighthouse Complex and is open from mid-June to early October. The 2022 opening date expected is 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 Maritime Museum is located in the old fog horn signal building at the Eagle Harbor Lighthouse Complex, located on Lighthouse Drive. GPS: N 47 27.592 , W 88 09.586, Decimal Degrees: 47.459865, -88.159763 Related Links- | 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. Upcoming Events:
|