"History on the Move"

Marquette County History Museum 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.”

In keeping with the Mission Statement, the Museum has decided to purchase a building in downtown Marquette to allow for the continual growth of the collection and to provide a place for community gatherings and state-of-the-art exhibits.  The project consists of purchasing and renovating a former bus garage at 145 West Spring Street which will create more exhibit space,  a fantastic community reception area, increased parking, an outdoor area, and a dome which will project local history images on an LCD screen.  The following are renderings of the new museum. Click on the photos to see a larger image.

“History on the Move”
Future of the Marquette County History Museum

Benefits of the New Museum Facility:

• A dramatic, state-of-the-art museum in Marquette which will attract local residents and tourists alike
• A large public reception area will be available for museum and community events and programming
• The outdoor recreational and educational area will display large artifacts and be a community gathering place
• An outdoor dome will project local historic images on an LCD screen heightening the public’s appreciation of local history
• The exhibit space which will be approximately four times the size of the current exhibit space
• The special exhibit gallery will accommodate traveling exhibits from major museums
• There will be accessibility to persons of all ages and abilities, meeting the requirement of the Americans with Disabilities Act
• There will be an increased number of parking spaces and safer parking for visiting school buses
• The ability to offer extensive school tour programs will be increased, including more educational opportunities for school groups to experience history hands-on in the children’s classroom
• The storage capacity for the Museum's collection will be increased with climate control for archival and artifact preservation, plus more work space to clean and repair artifacts
• Partnerships with the (nearby) U.P. Children’s Museum for special events will be possible
• There will be increased space for library patrons and researchers

New Facility Design:

Architectural design for the new Spring Street facility is by Barry Polzin, AIA.  Taylor Studios, Inc. will oversee the exhibit design layout and fabrication of several dioramas.  Artists and craftsmen from our community will construct the remainder of the exhibits.

 Current Services and Programming:

In keeping with the Mission Statement and the wishes of the founding members, the museum currently offers many ways to bring the community together.  An ongoing special event series is offered free to the public, satellite exhibits are located at various places in the county, and open houses with local entertainment are held many times during the year.  A special exhibit is installed every spring which focuses on different aspects of regional history. This exhibit utilizes the collection plus resources from the community. 

Archived newspapers, excellent genealogy resources, and numerous publications are highlights of the J.M. Longyear Research Library. It is an excellent place to research family history, local events, buildings, or any other topic with one-on-one assistance.

Nearly one thousand school children visit the museum every year from local classrooms. Docents (museum guides) are available for these visiting school groups, as well as educational and fun handouts and activities.  Cultural heritage kits are also available for check out by area teachers.  

The museum publishes historical manuscripts, walking tour brochures, and a quarterly local history journal, “Harlow’s Wooden Man.” Historical manuscripts published 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 fur traders to early missionaries and explorers; and the childhood classic, Dandelion Cottage, by Carroll Watson Rankin.  The Museum Store sells these titles plus work by local craftsmen, authors and artists, and traditional toys and educational materials for children.

Perhaps 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.  History institutions, partnering with their communities, are leaders in preserving, researching and interpreting traces of the past. Museums connect the people, thoughts, and events of yesterday with the active memories and concerns of people and communities today.  Through exhibitions and public programming, history organizations pass the gift of history to future generations, guaranteeing that each generation will search for its own answers and forge its own meaning with the lessons from the past intact.  The Marquette County History Museum makes the community a more attractive place to live, work and visit.   It is a repository for oral histories, letters and artifacts documenting the fascinating story of our area, preserving it for generations to come.

We believe the move to a larger facility will allow the museum to continue providing the programs and services that have been offered in the past, and will also allow many more opportunities to serve the community to arise.  Please consider joining the Marquette County History Museum and becoming a part of this exciting future!

Budget:

Estimated Cost of the New Facility including Renovations: $3,500,000
Estimated Cost for Exhibit Design and Creation: $500,000
Project Total: $4,000,000