The Rathbone School / Knights of Pythias Museum

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.  The photo above shows the current building and the way the building appeared ca. 1900 with a tour of guests from the fraternal lodge, The Knights of Pythias. 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 today across North America.

(Photo: One side of the Rathbone School is set up as an original one-room schoolhouse.)

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.

(Photo: The other side of the Rathbone School contains regalia and memorabilia commemorating the Knights of Pythias.)

Visiting The Rathbone School Museum

Season-
June 16th through October 13th, 2024.

Hours & Admission-
Hours 10 AM - 5 PM daily.  There is no admission charge for this museum, however a donation is appreciated.

Location- The Rathbone School is located at the intersection of 3rd and Center streets in the town of Eagle Harbor, Michigan.   The address is:  277 Center Street, Eagle Harbor, MI.   GPS: N 47 27.441  W 88 09.761,Decimal Degrees: 47.45735, -88.16268

Related Links-

• The Knights of Pythias
• Wikipedia – Eagle Harbor School House

All sites are open except Bammert Blacksmith Shop which is being renovated.

New this season!
The gift shop now has thimbleberry jam from locally picked berries. All proceeds go toward preserving our historical treasures.

Taste a bit of Keweenaw  History.
Berry picking has always been a way of life here. Locals and visitors have long enjoyed our unique natural bounty.

If you can't make it here for berry season, you can visit us vicariously through our newsletter "Superior Signal", another unique bounty of stories and anecdotes from past  news stories and memories.

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