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ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Tree Pruning Workshop with Mike Schira of the MSU Extension Service, originally schedule for 4-13-13 has been rescheduled for 4-27-13. Click here for a poster with all the details.

CLOSED: All of the KCHS museums are now closed for the 2012 season. Thank you for your visits and interest. We will update the Sites and Museum Schedule page in the spring of 2013 with the details for the summer 2013 season.

Visit the KCHS News page to keep track of KCHS activities and achievements.

Visit our
Publications Page for our newest release, "A Sesquicentennial History of Keweenaw County".

The 2012 site calendar and schedule of KCHS events is now available via the menu above.

Over 2,000 people attended the Keweenaw County Sesquicentennial Parade in Mohawk on July 24, 2010. Click this link to see a sample of some of the images from the parade.

Check this column for current news concerning the Keweenaw County Historical Society.

The Rathbone School and Museum

lighthouseThe Rathbone School is in the center of Eagle Harbor, Michigan.

Keweenaw History Museum

Even though the school had closed the building was still a tour stop for many groups including this group from the Knights of Pythias .

Located in Eagle Harbor, two blocks west of the harbor's swimming beach, this extensively restored one-room school served the community from 1853 to 1872. It was in this building that Justus H. Rathbone, who began teaching here in 1860, conceived the idea for the ritual of the Knights of Pythias, a secret fraternal society which he founded. This interdenominational organization, which had a peak membership of a quarter-million, continues to conduct its charitable work across North America.

The school has long been an object of pilgrimage by society members. In 1931, a thousand members gathered to pay homage to their society's founder and to witness the unveiling of the nearby granite monument in honor of Justus Rathbone.

The historic property was deeded by the society to Keweenaw County Historical Society in 1982. Its interior is furnished as it was in its time as a school and includes Knights of Pythias exhibits.

Donation requested.

 

Planning your visit

Hours & Admission - The Rathbone school and museum is open mid-June to early October. There is no admission charge for this museum.

Location -The Rathbone School is located at the intersection of 3rd and Center streets in the town of Eagle Harbor, Michigan. GPS: N 47 27.441  W 88 09.761, Decimal Degrees: 47.45735, -88.16268

Need a map? Feel free to use this Google Map to find the site, get a list of directions, etc. You may wish to use the 'Larger Map' view.

 

Related Links - You may wish to explore the following web sites for additional information on the Rathbone School and the Knights of Pythias.

The Knights of Pythias

Wikipedia - Eagle Harbor School House