Houghton County Historical Society

As we move into Spring 2018, we're firming up our schedule for another year of activity. Below are some of the dates we are looking forward to! (See our Calendar page for full details)

June 2nd	Grand Re-opening of the Circus Room. The steam train begins it's Saturday runs for the season.
July 3rd & 4th	Steam Train Rides on Both the 3rd and the 4th!
August TBD	History Day
September 3rd (Labor Day)	Trains, Tractors & More!
September 15th	Open House at the museum. Last day of the season for the museum.
October 13	Ghost Train & Children's Haunted House at the Leo Chaput Log Cabin
October 20th 6PM - 8PM	Volunteer Potluck Dinner and Annual Meeting
December 8th	Santa Train

The Perl Merrill Reseach Center, located in the Museum Annex along with our HCHS offices, is open all year for local area research and geneology searches. Winter Hours for the Center are Mondays & Fridays from 9:30 AM to Noon. During the summer months (June 16 thru Sept 30) the Center is open Mondays & Fridays from 9 AM to Noon.

The Houghton County Historical Museum Complex in Lake Linden was once the site of the largest copper milling operation in North America. Today, it is home to our Museum, and also to the Lake Linden & Torch Lake Railroad, the one room Traprock Valley School House, the WPA era Leo Chaput Log Cabin and the Perl Merrill Research Center (which is our archives and genealogical facility). The HCHS Heritage Center, a former Congregational Church building built in 1887, is just around the corner.

We are located on M-26 in Lake Linden, in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The Museum building offers three floors of exhibits of local Copper Country mining, logging and cultural history. Included among the outdoor exhibits is a working Calumet & Hecla Mining Co. train with a 3’ gauge Porter steam engine that was used to transport various materials at their mill and smelter sites. The steam train is now used for passenger tours and interpretation of the milling operation.

Open June thru September at variable hours. Our staff is all volunteer so please call ahead. If no one is available to take your call, please leave a message and your call will be returned as soon as possible. Off season tours and field trips can be arranged by calling the museum office at (906) 296-4121

Mission Statement:
The mission of the Houghton County Historical Society is to preserve, present, and interpret the history and culture of the Copper Country of Michigan, with emphasis on Houghton County and copper mining, processing and transportation. The society will pursue this mission through cooperation, collaboration, and participation with the community at large as well as other historical groups.

Welcome to the Houghton County Historical Society