Ontonagon County Historical Society Museum

A wonderfully rich assortment of things bring back many facets of Ontonagon County history. Don't miss the miniature peddler's wagon.

In this large space, originally a co-op supermarket, are a great variety of interesting, appealingly presented old objects relating to the county's unusually long and rich history — along with an outstanding gift shop. Society volunteers are an active force in the village of Ontonagon, and instrumental in gaining ownership and access to the nearby lighthouse and restoring it.

Fans of folk art and crafts, early historic copper mining, Lake Superior minerals, and Great Lakes lighthouse and maritime history will especially enjoy what's here. The collection is rearranged seasonally to keep things looking fresh. The area story line sometimes gets lost. But still the museum is one of the U.P.'s very best.

One new exhibit is a model of the original 1921 pulp mill on the harbor, where Smurfit-Stone is today. Another highlights Austin Corsair, who found silver at the site of Silver City, lived on his isolated homestead claim with his family from 1858 to 1872, and eventually became rich by selling his claim to people who hoped to get rich in silver. (They didn't.)

Ask to see photos, yearbooks, newspapers, and museum highlights. These include:
* maritime items from Ontonagon's original role as a harbor town: the lighthouse's original 1858 Fresnel lens; a cork-lined brass container for a ship's manifest and names of crew, to be found if the ship sank; and a harbor display with boat models made in 1888, and memoirs to go with them.
* a large panoramic artist's view of the Minesota Mine operation in Rockland in 1858.
* a watch collection. One, an elaborately engraved silver watch, was presented to Captain Redmond Ryder in 1858 because the arrival of his ship kept the town from starving. His great-great-grandson showed up at the museum and asked whether they'd ever heard of Redmond Ryder. When the answer was yes, he donated the watch.
* tools and arrowheads used by indigenous peoples before Europeans came to the area. One cold-hammered copper item found near a mine was sent by an archaeologist to Norway for analysis and found to be some 5,000 years old.
* interesting collections of agates and datolite. The datolite really stands out in the size and variety of specimens, including uncommon pink and red examples.
* "Risen from the Ashes,"a panoramic photographic portrait of Ontonagon in 1899, three years after fire destroyed the town.
* From Scandinavian immigrants: handmade instruments including a Norwegian langelaik (akin to a dulcimer) and a Finnish kantele (a harp whose high place in Finnish culture was assured by its role as instrument of the gods in the national epic, the Kalevala). A spinning wheel made from a recycled bicycle wheel enabled one Finnish family to spin wool for the heavy wool stockings women wore to milk the cows (also displayed).
* a delightful miniature peddler's wagon with carved wooden wares and horse. It looks old. Actually Joseph Papineau did it for the museum in 1999.

The gift shop (no admission charged; also online at ontonagonmuseum.org) is an attraction in its own right. Merchandise continuously changes. Prices from $1 to $100 and up mean there's something for everyone: jewelry at all price points, unusual candies; hats, sweatshirts ("Abermaki & Fish" is always a favorite), wallets, compasses; sauna supplies; a Christmas section; and specialties like small, very soft moose leather handbags from Norway and contemporary, elegant iitala crystal from Finland. Here one of the best selections of regional books for adults and children around: quite a bit on U.P. history, Lake Superior, and Great Lakes ghost stories. Of great interest to lighthouse fans: the museum's published transcriptions of the Ontonagon Lighthouse logs from 1872-1883 and 1883-1918.

At 422 River, Ontonagon's main street, at the east end of downtown. Look for the lavender paint job. (906) 884-6165. Supporters get a quarterly newsletter. Open year-round, Mon-Fri 10-5, and on Saturdays 10-4. Other times, including evenings, by appointment, often on short notice. $3 admission. Ages 15 and under free. Wheelchair accessible.
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