Worthy Causes: Spotlighting Those Preserving Our Past

Every family has one - the keeper of family history. It’s the relative most likely to know from which country great grandma or great grandpa emigrated or how Aunt Mabel and Uncle Joe met.

But what if you’re curious about the year Wakefield became a town? Or you want to find a photo of the incline train that once chugged Duluth’s hills. Or you need to save a historic lighthouse?

Communities, too, need keepers of collective history, guardians of not one family story, but of many. Historical societies do the job.

“We’ve got documentation or artifacts that relate directly to hundreds, if not thousands, of families,” says JoAnne Coombes, executive director of Minnesota’s St. Louis County Historical Society.

During this season of giving, many look for organizations to support. We ask you to consider our historical societies. And money is not the only donation. Consider giving family items; ask before tossing things. “We’re a phone call away,” says JoAnne. “We can give a lot of guidance over the phone.”

Your time is a gift, too. The photos here show how community volunteering has a long lakewide history.

Even people who no longer live here are supportive. The Keweenaw County Historical Society in Michigan, with roots to 1910, counts nearly 1,120 members in a county with about 2,000 residents. “Lots of people have ties here because this was once a very booming community,” says society President Virginia Petermann Jamison.

Wakefield (Michigan) Historical Society grew from a time when local mines were closing and families moving out wanted to leave behind ore samples, historic photos, lanterns and other artifacts. Launched with about 27 people, the society provided a place to collect that otherwise departing history, says Esther Wacker, an active volunteer.

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Burnett County Historical Society - Danbury, Wisconsin

Director Steve Wierschem

President Dianne Gravesen

Approximate number of members?

200

Greatest accomplishment of this year?

Increase in membership and visitors to Fort Folle Avoine Historical Park.

Most pressing need for the upcoming year?

Funding to support the historical park.

Volunteer opportunities in 2010?

Tour guides and interpreters.

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Carlton County Historical Society - Cloquet, Minnesota

cchs@cpinternet.com

218-879-1938

www.carltoncountyhistory.org

Director Anne Dugan

Are you open year-round?

We are open year-round with the exception of two weeks over Christmas and the weekend of Thanksgiving. Our hours are Tuesday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Thursday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Approximate number of members?

800

Greatest accomplishment of this year?

The Carlton County Historical Society has seen record attendance in 2009. We’ve been able to present four exhibits per year and update our permanent exhibits on the fires of 1918 and the wood industries. Our exhibit entitled “Whenever Two or More Are Gathered: a History of Churches in Carlton County” received statewide attention and a tremendous turnout at the opening. We also programmed four buildings at the Carlton County Fair and continued our mission to collect, preserve, and disseminate the history of Carlton County.

Most pressing need for the upcoming year?

We are in desperate need of updating our storage facilities. We’ve received a state grant to help with our textile preservation and we are working hard to properly store and organize our archives. We are towards the end of a major overhaul of our technological resources and when our new website debuts we will have a searchable collections database for those unable to come to the Historical Society in person.

Volunteer opportunities in 2010?

We’d love to expand our education offerings so we are looking for volunteers willing to make presentations to schools and senior centers. We are also looking for people willing to help with data entry and filing to help get our website ready for launch. Of course we are also always looking for people willing to volunteer at the county fair and as visitor services aides at our main building.

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Chippewa County Historical Society - Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan

115 Ashmun Street

President Mary M. June

Approximate number of members?

305

Greatest accomplishment of the past year

The first annual Sault History Fest on Water Street with music, fish boil, craft demonstrations, displays, encampments, tours of historic homes, children’s activities, etc. A Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs grant sponsored a canoe-building demonstration by Ojibway artist/craftsman Ron Paquin. Continued collaboration with the city and other nonprofits in managing the Water Street Historic Block, with live programming, exhibit planning and preparation, docent training and general overseeing of the historic properties.

Most pressing need in the coming year?

Donations to our capital campaign for the preservation of our 1889 sandstone headquarters. $177,000 is the total amount with approximately half of that raised so far.

Volunteer opportunities in 2010?

For the gift shop, summer events, refreshments for quarterly programs and speakers for programs.

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Douglas County Historical Society - Superior, Wisconsin

dchs@douglashistory.org

715-392-8449

www.douglashistory.org

Director Kathy Laakso

President Valerie Burke

Approximate number of members?

243

Greatest accomplishment of the past year?

We formally set into motion our newest form of education: History Theatre.  We held a 1943-era USO Canteen radio show last December.  A script was written with Canteen host, “Bob Hope” and his announcer, “Wen Niles” and movie stars like Dorothy Lamour, the Andrews Sisters and Marlene Dietrich performed “live” on radio. With live 1940s music by the Northland Youth Music Group, the Douglas County Historical Society’s auditorium transformed into a WWII Hollywood Canteen. This show, along with another originally written play based on local history that was performed last year, sowed the seed of DCHS’ History Theatre. The organization is forming a troupe of players and crew to offer history-based theatre, both entertaining and educational. The USO shows return on November 14 and 15.

Most pressing need in the coming year?

With the downturn in the economy, sustainability will be a challenge. Historically, the Society has received support from the City of Superior and the Douglas County Board. With deep cuts to all non-profits, including DCHS, it is imperative the Society work towards independence. Building our membership, cutting our own budget and fundraising are three goals set to achieve this. The success of our historical dramatizations and the fact that DCHS has a stage for community rental indicates we have a fundraising tool we need to utilize more this coming year.

Volunteer opportunities in 2010?

DCHS has volunteering opportunities for all types; from analytical to artistic, from social to physical. For those who enjoy computer work, our museum software, PastPerfect keeps records of our membership, collection and archives. Besides recording new accessions that come in almost monthly, we are in the process of entering all of our archives and collection artifacts, a task that is on-going.

Other computer projects are scanning photos for public use and PhotoShop. In the past, DCHS offered the service of repairing cracks and tears in old photos, using PhotoShop and would like to continue that service. Web site maintenance is another opportunity. Genealogy research is a primary service DCHS provides to the public.

For marketing types we need people who have great ideas that market our museum shop, exhibits, services, history presentations and History Theatre and to lead membership drives.

We need artistic people! Actors, stage managers, researchers, writers, costumers, lighting and sound technicians and producers will make up our History Theatre troupe beginning this year. Next year we will produce another original, history-based play about a teacher who, in 1927, was fired by the school board and students from all three Superior schools went on strike to protest.

Educators are sought to help DCHS create programs to teach local history to students. For the social, there are many opportunities to help at our numerous events, such as providing refreshments, setting up chairs, taking photos of events, seeking sponsors and acting as hosts to make the public feel welcome at our events.

And, of course, there is always physical work to be done in our building, such as painting, building exhibits, cleaning and repairing.

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Iron County Historical and Museum Society - Caspian, Michigan

Brady at Museum Road, off M-189 or 2 miles off U.S. Highway 2 at Iron River

ironcountymuseum@sbcglobal.net

906 265 2617

www.ironcountymuseum.com

Board President John MacPherson

Director, Curator, Artist, Author Marcia Bernhardt

Are you open year round?

No, we are open May-Oct. 1. The 26 buildings are open June-August, but with a shortage of volunteers in May and September, only the Main Building is open except by request.

The main building consists of the Cultural Center that holds 400+ people and hosts many exhibits and activities.  It has 3 galleries at its one end. Heritage Hall is 30' wide and about 60' long as are two other galleries, the Peterson mining and the Memorial mining. The original building is the former engine house of the mine.

The building complex also has one of the 3 special art galleries, the Lee LeBlanc Wildlife Art Gallery, that houses nearly 200 pieces of his work (he was a local person. The outdoor  complexes that we close in May (except for school classes) and September are the Sharrard Lobbing Camp, The Art complex (consists of a 1912 church & an artist's home and studio, the Homestead Complex (several log buildings), the Mining Complex with the original headframe on the National Register, the Transportation Complex that includes an 1890 depot, and Victoriana Complex that includes a rural one-room school and the home of Carrie Jacobs-Bond, early composer. Off season appointments are possible.

Is your staff paid or are they volunteers?

Our staff is all volunteer. In a weeks time we schedule approximately 20 people - grounds, desk, archives. We have 2 parttime supervisors and a parttime treasurer who are paid staff.

Approximate number of members?

About 200  

Greatest accomplishment this year?

Completion of a 2-year project, the renovation of 8 log buildings located in either the Logging Camp or in the Homestead Complexes, the painting and repair of the St. Mary's Church, and with programming, the celebration of Ferrous Frolics with multiple activities for children, and a Wine and Cheese Party on another occasion for adults. We are now working on the Christmas Tree Galleria that is open for ten days in November and usually exhibits more than 40 decorated trees.

Biggest need in the upcoming year?

Probably the same as other institutions - a stable economy and a need for more funds to maintain our buildings and programs.

Volunteer opportunities in 2010?

Grounds keepers to mow and tend gardens planted by our students in May, desk personnel and guides (2 each day), gift shop attendants (2 each day), archival workers (3-4 a week), artists to assist with designing exhibits, kitchen workers for some of our special events, teachers and presenters for school visitations (usually about 30 as each grade attends 3-4 classes). Over the season we schedule about 80 volunteers.

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Keweenaw County Historical Society - Eagle Harbor, Michigan

670 Lighthouse Road

906-289-4990

www.keweenawhistory.org

President Virginia Jamison

Vice President Ginny Schubert

Treasurer George Hite

Secretary Anne Boggio

12 Trustees

8 different historic sites:

1. Eagle Harbor Lighthouse Complex with lighthouse, fishing museum and archives building, maritime museum, and history museum.

2. The Rathbone School, begun in the 1860s, houses a museum of the history of the Knights of Pythias which was founded in Eagle Harbor.

3. Museum of lifesaving at the marina.

4. Bammer Blacksmith shop.

5. Phoenix Church of the Assumption built in 1853 for the Cliff Mine and relocated to Phoenix in 1898 to serve its miners.

6. 58 acres of the town of Central Mine which includes 10 buildings which house a visitor’s center, miners homes, walking trails and ruins of this former bustling mining town.

7. The schoolhouse in Gay Michigan that is being restored and will house a weaving workshop and museum including fishing boats and other memorabilia.

8. A museum in the Eagle River Community Building that will focus on the town of Eagle River, the Cliff Mine and Crestview.

In addition, it publishes a quarterly newsletter of 18-32 pages with news of the society and historical articles.

Are you open year-round?

No, open May to October

Approximate number of members?

1,118

Is your staff paid or are they volunteers?

Volunteers run the society. Our only paid staff includes part-time ticket takers and maintenance staff.

Greatest accomplishment of the past year?

Loan by the Coast Guard of a fourth order Fresnel lens from the Keweenaw Lower Entry Light, which is like the lens that used to be in the Eagle Harbor Lighthouse. It is in the process of being restored and will be on display in the Eagle Harbor Lighthouse. This project has been in process since 1992.

The society was awarded the prestigious Superior Award for an outstanding historical society in the Upper Peninsula by the Historical Society of Michigan.

Most pressing need in coming year?  

Continued restoration of a life saving surf boat for life-saving station in Eagle Harbor; reconstruction of foundation of the 1853 Catholic Church in Phoenix, Michigan; repair, restoration and exhibit design work on newly acquired school building in Gay, Michigan.

Volunteer opportunities in 2010?

We currently utilize volunteers in most areas: lighthouse tour guides, publications, gardening, membership, maintenance, preservation, research, archival work, display design, development and construction, children’s program, and grant writing. Additional volunteers are needed in all of these areas. We do contract out major construction and some maintenance.

Many of our sites are not handicapped accessible because they are historic. Some changes have been made to make many of them more accessible.

Hours and locations are flexible and varied depending on the type of work or project.

Interested individuals are always welcomed. Skill levels are varied depending on the project. Reading skills are important in most areas.

It is important to maintain and to keep the sites opened to the public and with meaningful displays. Additional volunteers will help to achieve that goal. A love for history will serve all positions well.

Safety of the public, including children, is important, so persons with an unfavorable background check would not be acceptable to volunteer for KCHS.

All of this will impact the mission to preserve, restore and to show or exhibit the county’s history

Available volunteer positions:

Eagle Harbor Lighthouse Tour Guide

Meet and greet the public and share information at the lighthouse. A handbook is provided with historic information and guidelines. Hours are 3-4 hours once a week, June to October.

Central Site Visitor Center & House #61 Museum Guide

Greet and share the history of Central with the visitors. This is a great job for volunteers who like to work independently, are outgoing and love history.

Gardener - Trail work - Lawn Cutting Assistant

This is out door work at the sites and could involve planting flowers, garden maintenance, watering, tree trimming, lawn cutting etc. Supervisor would depend on the site and availability of the worker.

Grant Research - Grant Writer

We are in need of someone to do research into possible grants that KCHS could use and then put together the proper documentation and apply for the grant for the organization. Experience in grant writing is helpful.

Archive Organization - Archive Research

KCHS has an abundance of artifacts, photos and documents, which tell the story of the Copper Country. Volunteers who work with archived materials get them ready for public viewing and may conduct research on items that come to the museums. It’s a great job for any history buff. Organizational skills are an asset for this position.

Children’s Program “Adventures in History” Director

Retired teacher, this would be a great job for you, put together children’s a summer history program. It changes yearly and uses our many sites to make history come alive for children. This person would work with the adventure program chair.

Artist Graphic Design

Help put together museum displays and arrangements. Lay out and design of new and current displays and artifacts for public showing is an important role in the way an exhibit is enjoyed by visitors.

Maintenance - Historic Restoration - Construction

This is a great job for Mr. or Mrs. Fix it. There is a need at many different sites and times. Some may be quick fixes and some may be more involved. Supervisor and hours are flexible depending on the project.

School House at Gay

Get in on the ground floor of this newly acquired building to work on future displays and exhibits.

Adult Program “Adventures in History” Assistant

Help organize and facilitate this summer history program for adults. Work with the chair.

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Lake County Historical Society - Two Harbors, Minnesota

Administrator: Rick Tokarczyk

Approximate number of members?

140 individuals and families, plus 20 business members.

Greatest accomplishment of the past year?

Holding our financial stability, donations and grants. We have created new exhibits including logging, commercial fishing and early education in Lake County. These new exhibits have increased our visitor count to the highest since 2000.

Most pressing need in the coming year?

Cash match for the restoration of our large Mallet locomotive. A federal grant for $200,000 needs to be matched with $50,000 in cash (not in-kind or donated services). We are only halfway there. The Mallet restoration will happen in 2010 as our primary project. A second project will be a new harbor history exhibit house in the Frontenac pilothouse on the lighthouse grounds.

Volunteer opportunities in 2010?

With as many buildings, sites, and outside exhibits as we have, maintenance is always an issue. We need volunteers to paint the outside of the Frontenac pilothouse and other buildings and for the detail work on the Mallet; this may include remaking parts, installing missing components, detailed painting, etc.

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Luce County Historical Society - Newberry, Michigan

overhiserj@hotmail.com

906-293-3786

www.exploringthenorth.org/www.visitnewberry.org

President Jack Overhiser

Are you open year-round?

No. We are open from June 20th to early September. We have an 1894 Sheriff’s  Residence (a Queen Anne Style Brownstone structure) with an attached two story stone Jail in the rear as our Historical Museum. It was listed on The Register of National Historic Places in 1982 and recognized for both its historical and architectural merit.

Approximate number of members?

180

Is your staff paid or are they volunteers?

All volunteer.

Greatest accomplishment of the past year?

We hosted the Historical Society of Michigan’s “60th Annual Upper Peninsula State History Conference.” This was a three day conference that drew participants from both the Upper and Lower Peninsula’s of Michigan. (June 26,27, & 28, 2009)

Most pressing need in coming year?

Following a six year project to restore the exterior of the old Sheriff’s Residence and Jail, during which time we won the 2003 David Evans Memorial Award for Historic Preservation from the Michigan Architectural  and Clannad Foundations, we received a grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. It was to hire professional help to prepare an early 20th Century landscape plan for the Museum.

We now have that plan and in the coming year would like to create that new landscape. We would also like to have a historic crane fountain restored to become the centerpiece of the new landscape. Part of the National Trust grant was to hire a conservator to assess the crane fountain & provide restoration guidance. We did that.

Volunteer opportunities in 2010?

We are an all-volunteer Society & can use volunteers for:

Museum receptionist

Curator assistant

Garden upkeep

Lawn care

Museum guide

Historical research

Museum repair

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Marquette County History Museum - Marquette, Michigan

jlammi@sbcglobal.net

906-226-3571

www.marquettecohistory.org

Executive Director Kaye Hiebel

Are you open year-round?

Yes

Approximate number of members?

600+

Greatest accomplishment of the past year?

Our new museum project the level of community involvement in planning, capital campaign, related events - all have been so rewarding for our organization.

Most pressing need in coming year?

Completing the remainder of our capital campaign.

Volunteer opportunities in 2010?

Transcribing and conducting oral histories.

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Negaunee Historical Museum - Negaunee, Michigan

303 E Main Street

virginia@negauneehistory.com

906-475-4614

www.negauneehistory.com

President Virginia Paulson

Are you open year-round?

No, we are open June 1st to Labor Day, Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sundays, 1-4 p.m.  

Approximate number of members?

290

Is your staff paid or are they volunteers?

2 Board Members, 20 volunteers to staff for summer

Greatest accomplishment this year?

Repairing and painting the front porch.  

Most pressing need for coming year?

In the winter we redo a room, and we also have a trolley car that needs refurbishing if funds are available.  

Volunteer opportunities in 2010?

We’re always looking for people to staff the museum any day during the summer. Shifts are 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 10 a.m.-1 p.m., or 1-4 p.m. Also, we need volunteers to work on photo albums and painting projects.

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Ontonagon County Historical Society - Ontonagon, Michigan

ochs@jamadots.com

906-884-6165

www.ontonagonmuseum.org

President of the Board Bruce Johanson

Are you open year-round?

Yes. Tours are offered three times a day, Monday through Saturday, during the summer, but tours can be arranged during the winter as well.

Approximate number of members?

363

Is your staff paid or are they volunteers?

Volunteers.

Greatest accomplishment of the past year?

We completed the second year of our SHIP Program, which is a youth outreach effort (Summer History Internship Program). SHIP was funded through a grant from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services, and it helped us to instill in our young people an appreciation of local history. Also, Bruce Johanson trains two Ontonagon Area High School teams for an annual Local History Smackdown, which is a local history bee organized by the Keweenaw National Historical Park.  Ontonagon teams have won the competition more often than any other school.

Also, we are in the process of restoring our lighthouse. We are 90% complete on the exterior, and 85% on the interior. This summer, our exterior was tuckpointed thanks to a grant from the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). Our historic Ontonagon Harbor Lighthouse is the featured “lighthouse of the year” for 2009 at the Lighthouse Festival, which is held annually at Alpena, MI, focusing on all Great Lakes Lighthouses.

Most pressing need in coming year?

We’ll need money to continue our Youth Outreach programs, finish our Lighthouse restoration, and continue operating our museum; and, we always need volunteers.

Volunteer opportunities in 2010?

We’ll need volunteers to work with our youth, work in our museum, give lighthouse tours, etc. We are operating almost exclusively as a volunteer organization, and we are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

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St. Louis County Historical Society - Duluth, Minnesota

history@thehistorypeople.org

218-733-7580

www.thehistorypeople.org

President of the Board of Governors Vern Zacher

Are you open year-round?

We are open year-round, as we are housed in the St. Louis County Heritage & Arts Center (the Depot).

Approximate number of members?

We have 800 members

Greatest accomplishment of the past year?

The greatest accomplishment of the past year is acquisition of funding for the Society's Eastman Johnson collection of art and for reframing of many of the individual works. The collection consists of thirteen (13) oil paintings, twenty-two (22) charcoal drawings, and one (1) pastel. Also acquired was funding for the construction of new maple cabinets in which to display this collection and, in the future, other holdings of the Society, in a properly safe and aesthetically pleasing micro-environment.

Most pressing need for the upcoming year?

The most pressing need in the coming year is to continue efforts to build a broad base of membership and endowment support for general operations.

Volunteer opportunities in 2010?

Collections care assistants (data entry, provenance research, and artifact photography).

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The Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Director/Curator Tory Tronrud

President Frank Gerry

Approximate number of members?

1,000

Greatest accomplishment of this year?

Hosting several dozen events related to the museum’s centennial.

Most pressing need in the coming year?

Redesigning our website; financial donations welcome as it is rather expensive.  We are also interested in volunteers with the skills to help with the website.

Volunteer opportunities in 2010?

Antique car raffle sales, ticket selling, artifact cataloguing. Volunteer digitizers to transfer the photo collection to digital media. Donations of artifacts are always welcome. We are looking for wedding-related items for our big exhibit on weddings throughout history.

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Wakefield Historical Society - Wakefield, Michigan

906-224-1045

President Eugene Maki

Are you open year-round?

No, we are open from June to September

Approximate number of members?  

60

Is your staff paid or are they volunteers?

Volunteers.

 Greatest accomplishment of the past year?

Purchased by donations, a flagpole, installed and dedicated it during the opening ceremonies. Continued the grounds and building improvements that included: re-roofing, siding, windows and insulation. Most pressing need in coming year: New electrical wiring, outlets and switches, new lighting and displays.

Volunteer opportunities in 2010?

Up dating several displays and developing new displays and signage on the second floor areas. Organizing the basement level. Developing and implementing a master plan for the gardens and general landscaping.

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Contact Listings

Michigan

Alger County Historical Society, Munising

906-387-4308

Baraga County Historical Museum, Baraga

906-353-8444 or 906-353-6810, www.baragacountyhistoricalmuseum.com

Bessemer Area Historical Society, Bessemer

bessemerhistoricalsociety.com

Chippewa County Historical Society, Sault Ste. Marie

906-635-7082

Gogebic Range Genealogical Society, Ironwood

www.gogebicroots.com

Houghton County Historical Museum, Lake Linden

906-296-4121, www.houghtonhistory.org

Ironwood Area Historical Society, Ironwood

906-932-0287

Iron County Historical Museum, Caspian

906-265-2617, www.ironcountymuseum.com

Keweenaw County Historical Society, Eagle Harbor

906-289-4990, www.keweenawhistory.org

Luce County Historical Museum, Newberry

906-293-5709

Marquette County History Museum, Marquette

906-226-3571, www.marquettecohistory.org

Negaunee Historical Museum, Negaunee

906-475-4614, www.negauneehistory.com

Ontonagon County Historical Society, Ontonagon

906-884-6165, www.ontonagonmuseum.org

Wakefield Historical Society, Wakefield

906-224-1045, www.hsmichigan.org/wakefield/

Minnesota

Carlton County Historical Society, Cloquet

218-879-1938, www.carltoncountyhistory.org

Cook County Historical Society, Grand Marais

218-387-2883, www.cookcountyhistory.org

Finland Historical Society, Little Marais

218-353-7380, www.finlandmnhistoricalsociety.com

Lake County Historical Society, Two Harbors

218-834-7198, www.lakecountyhistoricalsociety.org

St. Louis County Historical Society, Duluth

218-733-7586, www.thehistorypeople.org

Ontario

Nipigon Historical Museum, Nipigon

807-887-0356

Sault Ste. Marie Museum, Sault Ste. Marie

705-759-7278, www.saultmuseum.com

Schreiber Railway Museum, Schreiber

807-824-4638

Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society, Thunder Bay

807-623-0801, www.thunderbaymuseum.com

White River Heritage Museum, White River

807-822-2657 www.marvellousmuseum.com

Wisconsin

Ashland Historical Society Museum, Ashland

715-682-4911, www.ashlandhistory.com

Burnett County Historical Society Danbury

715-866-8890, www.theforts.org

Bayfield County Historical Society, Washburn

715-373-5868

Douglas County Historical Society, Superior

715-392-8449, www.douglashistory.org

Iron County Historical Society, Hurley

715-561-2244 ironcountymuseum.org

Sawyer County Historical Society & Museum, Hayward

715-634-8053, www.sawyercountyhist.org

Washburn County Historical Society Museum Complex, Shell Lake

715-468-2982, washburn.wigenweb.org