The Eagle River Museum
(Photo: An early photograph showing the Cliff Mine stamp mill and rock pile. Photo courtesy of the Keweenaw County Historical Society.)
(Photo: In-house display for The Joseph Blight AKA The Original Lake Superior Fuse Company factory. It's site was located near the dam across the street from the museum.) One of the first mines that used Eagle River as their port to ship out copper and bring in supplies was the neighboring Cliff Mine. The Cliff was the first commercially successful mine in the Keweenaw. While the most productive time of the Cliff was 1844 to 1870 some work continued on and off through the 1930s. During the 1844-1870 period, the owners of the Cliff invested $110,000 in the mine and got back more than $2,000,000 in profits. The Cliff Mine and its relationship to and dependence on the town of Eagle River is one of the museum’s major exhibits.
(Photo: The Tioga and the 2016 State Historical marker sit next to the Eagle River Museum.) The museum also has exhibits on the important role the town of Eagle River played in the history of the Keweenaw and of the neighboring town and mine of Phoenix. As one example, the copper mines needed explosives and fuses to produce copper. One of the early factories for the production of mining fuse in the Keweenaw was the Lake Superior Fuse Company which built the dam that tourists see across the road from the museum. Another exhibit focuses on the Crestview Casino and resort area. The Keweenaw Central Railroad built a pavilion and recreation area between the towns of Phoenix and Eagle River in 1909 and called it Crestview. It was designed to encourage the use of the railroad beyond the mines. The Crestview Casino had a kitchen, running water, etc. and was used by individuals and groups seeking to enjoy a nice day in the country. Visitors could either walk to the shore of Lake Superior or take a wagon ride to the beach. It was estimated that over 500,000 people visited Crestview during its first year in 1909. Though Crestview was called a casino, gambling and alcoholic beverages were not allowed at Crestview according to the brochures published by the railroad. The center piece and perhaps oldest artifact of the museum is the 1852 W.P. Emerson Square Grand Piano that was brought to Eagle River in 1853 and placed in the Eagle River Hotel. The hotel burned in 1912 but the staff was able to get the piano out of the hotel before the fire reached it. (Photo: This top-of-the-line piano offered a bit of high society in the early frontier town.)
(Photo: The 1914 memorial to Douglass Houghton is located on M26 just a short distance west of the museum.)
Hours & Admission- The Eagle River Museum is open from mid June to early October on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Hours are 12 - 4 PM. The last day the museum will be open in 2023 is Saturday, October 7th. Docents present. There is no admission fee for this museum, but a donation is appreciated. Location- The Eagle River Museum is housed in the old Eagle River School House building which now serves as the Houghton Township Community Building, along M-26 near the historic waterfall and dam in town. The address is 5059 4th Street, Eagle River, MI. GPS: N 47 24.769 W 88 17.763, Decimal Degrees: 47.412815, -88.29605 Related Links– |
The leaves in the Keweenaw are showing their colors!
One of the best times of the year to visit us is in early fall when the bugs are mostly gone and the trees turn on their autumn colors. Our historic sites are on or near the Copper Country Trail, a national scenic byway. This route is truly a national gem offering many scenic views, waterfalls, roadside parks, quaint amenities and a glimpse of our unique history. 7/25/23The Miner's Home still has two weeks rental available in September. Reserve The Miner's Home (Members Only) 6/21/23
Eagle Harbor Inn
Grampa's Barn
Keweenaw Power and Lite
Pasty.NET
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