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Michigan Iron Industry Museum

A reddish-brown brick building with a steep pitched roof and brown trim.

Michigan Iron Industry Museum

Museum Closure Notice

The Michigan Iron Industry Museum will be closed from Monday, Sept. 30 through Friday, Nov. 22 for some much-needed building updates. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause but hope you will visit once the museum has reopened!

Please also note that roof work will begin on the building on Tuesday, Sept. 3, however the building will remain open during this time. Pardon the noise!

Located eight miles west of the City of Marquette in the forested ravines of the Marquette Iron Range, this modern museum facility overlooks the Carp River and the site of the first iron manufactory in the Lake Superior region. The museum tells the story of Michigan’s three iron ranges and the people who worked them, through dramatic exhibits, audio-visual programs, and outdoor interpretive trails. A high-definition video, “Iron Spirits: Life on the Michigan Iron Range,” is shown six times daily in the museum’s 88-seat auditorium.

The museum also offers an active education program including community outreach, seasonal events, a lecture series, and the Future Historians, a youth association that meets monthly during the school year. Every summer, the Future Historians share their knowledge and test their skills by providing costumed first-person interpretation for visitors at another Michigan History Center site, Fort Wilkins, through four 3-day living history camps.

Visitor Information

Michigan Iron Industry Museum

73 Forge Rd, Negaunee, MI 49866

Phone: 906-475-7857
email: MHCinfo@michigan.gov

Allow one to tour hours for your visit. Admission is free; however, a Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry.

Hours of Operation

The Michigan Iron Industry Museum is open year-round on the following schedule: 

  • Oct. 1 - April 30: Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • May 1 - Sept. 30: Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Please note: from Oct. 1 through April 30, the museum will be closed on state holidays and several other days. Visit the Michigan History Center's Holiday Closing Schedule for a complete list.

Accessibility

The Michigan Iron Industry Museum is accessible to people who cannot use stairs; a Wheelchair may be borrowed, subject to availability. A magnifier, large-print transcripts of the A/V program and printouts of the interpretive trail panels are available for use on request. Designated accessible parking is available. Service animals are always welcomed.

Education Programs

The Michigan Iron Industry Museum offers a variety of presentations that are adaptable for any grade level. The presentations, some interactive, teach students about topics such as lighthouse keepers on the Great Lakes, Iron Ore and early settlement in Michigan. 

The museum also hosts the Future Historians Club! A youth association that meets monthly during the school year, the Future Historians Club offers students a place to learn about Michigan history. Members can also train to become living history interpreters! 

 

Learn more about education programs

A group of students dressed in reproductions of 1870 style clothing in front of a log cabin.

Amenities

Looking for more history?

The Michigan History Center runs more sites and museums statewide. There's more history to explore!

View all museums and sites