THE IRON COUNTY Historical Museum in Caspian opens today for the summer season. Visitors are welcome from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays from June through August. Museum Director Kathlene “KL” Long and Zoey show of the dugout canoe displays in Heritage Hall. (Terri Castelaz/Daily News photo)
CASPIAN — The Iron County Historical Museum in Caspian — featuring 27 buildings, 100-plus exhibits and two art galleries — is one of the largest outdoor museum complexes in the Upper Peninsula.
The museum opened at 100 Brady Ave. in 1968, on the site of the former Caspian Mine that closed in 1937.
“The 1921 engine house and headframe are the two original structures on the grounds,” said Kathlene “KL” Long, who started as museum director two years ago.
The remaining buildings were relocated to the property from another part of Iron County or built for the museum.
The main museum, known as “Heritage Hall,” was built in 1975 around the original engine house, Long said.
ONE OF THE largest outdoor museum complexes in the Upper Peninsula, the Iron County Historical Museum in Caspian features the original mine headframe from 1921, along with the Stager Depot, gas station, shop building and fire hall. (Terri Castelaz/Daily News photo)
The hall houses all the museum’s original exhibits from when they first opened in 1968.
“We have really cool pieces of Iron County history,” Long said. “It tells the story of Iron County in its beginning.”
Toti’s Tavern was moved in 2003 from the Virgil location of Iron River, as Don Toti of Marquette donated the family building to the museum.
“We love having this place,” she said. “We have many events and fundraisers in there, as well as rent the space to the public.”
The home of American singer, pianist and songwriter Carrie Jacobs-Bond was moved from Adams Street in Iron River in 1978. The home was restored to the 1890-1910 period, with many of the pieces, furniture and other unique items coming from her estate.
THE OBERG FAMILY donated some of the furniture and the cradle on display inside the Beechwood Cabin. (Terri Castelaz/Daily News photo)
The Stager Depot, once the railroad station near Stager Lake in Crystal Falls, was in operation until 1960. Visitors can also find artifacts from local airports and helicopter propellers made by Rudy Enstrom from Crystal Falls at the depot.
Many of the furnishings in the Pioneer (Baumgartner) School were donated by the local schools. The one-room schoolhouse was built in 1896 and restored when it moved to the grounds in 1988.
The 9-plus-acre facility has also been designated “Log Cabin Capital of Michigan,” acquiring more historic log structures than any other site in the state.
“The Beechwood cabin is set up like a home,” Long said.
The 1911 St. Mary Church in Gaastra was moved to the grounds in 1989 after its closing the year before.
THE BEECHWOOD CABIN, built in 1890, was donated to the museum by Art Ranto and moved to the grounds in 1972. (Terri Castelaz/Daily News photo)
The Young Firehall is dedicated to honoring Iron County’s rich tradition of volunteer fire departments and features many pieces, including an antique fire truck.
The Brandon Giovanelli Studio and Gallery, along with LeBlanc Wildlife Art Gallery, displays the artists’ extensive collections.
Other buildings include the Crossing House; gas station; shop building; scraper-drift; machinery shed and barn; storage barn; 1890 Soderquist barn, shed
and blacksmith shop; 1890 Poutinen log barn; Sharrard logging camp; shingle mill barn and sleigh shed; Irvine Playhouse; and an outhouse.
They are currently in the process of completely revamping Heritage Hall, Long said.
The artist island will feature artist Frank Rawnick Sr.’s wood-carved furniture and work from Aileen Fisher’s collection.
In the works is an underwater exhibit, highlighting Caspian native Geno Giuliani, a professional deep sea diver and welder. “This exhibit will be done this summer — it’s going to be very neat,” she said.
In addition to pieces of equipment, Giuliani’s family donated many of the artifacts from his treasure hunts all over the world.
The museum has also “freshened up” the Native American exhibits with help from members of the Lac Vieux Desert. “They have been really awesome to work with,” Long said.
The rock and mineral exhibit is almost complete, with a few additional signs and wall displays going in by this fall.
The museum’s “Timeline” project that details the years of how it developed is now finished
One of the most exciting new projects is the wall display recognizing the Iron County residents who died in World War II, Long said.
“Right now I have about 110 names,” she said. “This will be a temporary wall exhibit near the gift shop area until next year.”
She hopes the exhibit will become a permanent display, but it will take some time to create the room.
Long expressed her appreciation to Connor Sports, which donated the new floor for the hall.
Those planning to tour the grounds should expect at least a two- to three-hour stay, she said.
The museum has several picnic tables and visitors are welcome to enjoy lunch on the grounds.
They offer an extensive Archives and Research Center. Anyone in need of assistance can contact Maggie Scheffer, archives specialist, at 906-265-2617.
The gift shop area has extended space in the Bernhardt Cultural Center, offering all types of souvenirs.
“In addition to Toti’s Tavern, we offer rental space to the community in the cultural center or even to get married in our historic church,” Long said.
The museum is a Harvest Host site as well, Long noted.
The History Happy Hour will return this summer, with the first event set for 6 p.m. Friday, June 21, with singer and songwriter Bill Jamerson presenting a program on the history of ski jumping in the Upper Peninsula.
Olympic gold medal-winning snowboarder Nick Baumgartner will appear for the July 19 Happy Hour program and the August session will feature a program on the history of sled dog races.
The Tastings, Tapas & Tours annual fundraiser is planned for 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24. Tickets are now available.
This year’s theme for the Christmas Tree Galleria is “Dreamin’ of a White Christmas.” The museum’s largest fundraiser will run from Nov. 29 to Dec. 15.
The funds raised go toward maintenance and upgrades of the buildings and grounds.
Volunteers are always welcome and anyone interested can contact the museum office.
Summer hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday from June through August. They are closed Sundays and holidays.
Groups and special tours are welcome and can be made in advance by calling the museum at 906-265-2617 or by emailing info@ironcountymuseum.org.
All donations are always welcome to support the museum’s mission to preserve Iron County history. Monetary donation can be mailed to P.O. Box 272, Caspian, MI 49915.
“We are grateful for the support throughout the year,” Long said.
For more information, go online to https://ironcountymuseum.org.