Mission Statement
We believe the preservation of the cultural and physical history of our area brings an understanding to the past and present, and provides a guide for the future. The Marquette County History Museum not only maintains exhibits, artifacts and a research library, it is a forum for engaging the community and creating links between people.
History
The Marquette County Historical Society is a private, nonprofit organization founded in 1918 by local residents who wished to preserve Marquette County’s rich cultural heritage. The Society was able to purchase the building it now occupies in 1937 through a bequest from the estate of Mrs. Mary B. Longyear. After much renovation the Marquette County History Museum was officially open to visitors for the first time in 1949. In addition to the permanent dioramas and exhibits, a special exhibit is installed every spring which accentuates an aspect of regional history. The collection has grown so extensively that only 10% of it can be displayed at once! Looking toward the future, the museum will be acquiring a larger facility in order to continue to grow and preserve the history of Marquette County.
Collection
The permanent collection includes artifacts from the Prehistoric copper culture through contemporary times. The museum celebrates 90 years of commitment to preserving the material culture of our region in 2008, and will continue to increase and broaden the collection which is both diverse and impressive.
J. M. Longyear Research Library
In 1925, John M. Longyear’s private collection of books, maps and manuscripts became the nucleus of the J.M. Longyear Research Library. Since that time, the library has grown to more than 15,000 titles and is considered one of the finest libraries in Michigan specializing in the history of the Lake Superior region. The collection includes archives, yearbooks, historical accounts, unpublished diaries, census records, obituaries, city directories, newspapers, and thousands of photographs & maps. It is an excellent place to research genealogy with one-on-one assistance. The collection is non circulating.
Board of Trustees
The museum is governed by a Board of Trustees consisting of 12 to 15 members in good standing of the organization. The Trustees are elected for terms of three years at the annual meeting and may serve two consecutive terms. A Nominating Committee appointed by the Board President nominates individuals for election and nominations from members are also considered. Trustees are not paid.
Click here for member list
Membership
Anyone may become a member through payment of membership dues.
Basic Individual: $25.00
Basic Family: $40.00
Supporting Individual: $40.00
Supporting Family: $65.00
Lifetime/Memorial: $1000.00
(Includes an engraved plaque in the museum)
Businesses:
Nonprofit organization: $50.00
1-10 Employees: $50.00
10-50 Employees: $125.00
50-100 Employees: $275.00
More than 100 Employees: $375.00
Services /Programming
Docents are offered for visiting school groups, and cultural heritage kits are available for check out by area classrooms. The exhibit areas change regularly and are open to the public. Archived newspapers, excellent genealogy resources, and numerous publications are highlights of the library. The Marquette County History Museum offers an ongoing special event series, open houses with free admission and local entertainment, and satellite exhibits at various locations in the county. Yet, the most important service the museum provides is to act as a repository for oral histories, letters and artifacts which represent the people of this area.
Publications
Historical manuscripts published through the J.M. Longyear Research Library include the following books: North to Lake Superior, a journal account of the historic trip of Douglass Houghton to determine the geological significance of the region; Landlooker in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, reminiscences of John M. Longyear from the 1870's; The Grand Island Story, the history of Grand Island from its earliest known settlements to the fur traders, to the early missionaries and explorers; The Memoirs of Charles L. Stakel cover his 48-year mining career with the Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Company, touching upon personal and family life in the Upper Peninsula. Other books published by the library include the childhood classic, Dandelion Cottage, by Carroll Watson Rankin. A quarterly history journal, “Harlow’s Wooden Man” is also published.
Donations
In addition to donation of artifact and archival materials, other methods of donation include: specific bequests, residual bequests, life insurance policies, real estate, stock, bond and mutual fund donations, trusts and monetary gifts.
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Facilities
The building has three exhibit galleries, artifact storage areas, including off-site storage, and a fireproof library vault & museum store.
Staffing
There are five paid positions: Executive Director, Development Director, Curator, Research Librarian, and Business Manager. Part-time summer help is also hired. Our volunteers are also a great asset.
Hours/Admission
The museum is open from 10:00 to 5:00, Monday through Friday, and from 10:00. to 9:00 on the Third Thursday of the month. Saturday hours are 11:00 to 4:00 during the months of June, July, and August only. The museum is closed on holidays. Admission is $3.00 for adults, $1.00 for students over 12, and there is no admission charge for children or school groups. Other group rates are available.
Visitor Statistics
People from all over the world visited the Marquette County History Museum in 2005 including visitors from France, Greece, Slovenia, Norway, Denmark, Thailand, Japan, England, Switzerland, Germany, India, New Zealand, Sweden, Ecuador and nearly every province of Canada. Visitors from the United States came from California, Texas, North Carolina, Louisiana, and Washington, D.C. to name a few.
The Museum Store
The store offers regional history books, work by local artisans and authors, and traditional toys and educational material for children.
