History Club5th-H History 4-H Club
We are a 4-H Club! The four Hs are: Head, heart, hands, health. Our students named us the 5th-H club as we add "history!" Join us for this youth club. We meet through the school year and summer. Currently we are open to members ages 8-16 and are working on group projects and individual projects in theme with our special exhibit and community activities. Email Emily with any questions or give us a call. 
Club members learning upstairs in our research library.
Club History:
The History Center joined with Marquette County 4-H to create a History Club in early 2017. Youth ages 8-16 and parents are invited to join. This club meets twice a month. We will learn about local history through projects such as: special guests, building a diorama, role playing, local authors, traditional crafts, and the stories youth choose to explore. A great opportunity to meet new friends and create group or individual projects. Youth may also create exhibits for the Marquette County Fair, and win prizes. When registered for the new '25-'26 season of History Club, please pay the participation fee above.
Email Emily Varga re: Any club queries: [email protected] |
Field TripsWe are thrilled to host your class
in the museum for a pre-scheduled field trip! See below for field trip units. Contact Betsy via email to schedule: [email protected] If you are unable to bring your class in at this time, try a virtual visit! See the information below to schedule or purchase yours. These virtual field trips are created so you may enjoy them from your classroom, or at home. 
Fur Trade Virtual Visit
Virtual Archaeology Field Trip
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School Group Visits Photo: School group activity - trade bead bracelet.
The History Center offers guided tours through the museum, including hands-on projects, live performances and activities for all ages. Call to schedule your visit today.
We can host school groups both big and small. 60 is a nice maximum group size. (For restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic, please call). Many dates and times are available for your field trip. Call or email to schedule as far in advance as possible; please try to schedule at least one week in advance. Programs designed for all age groups are available, Preschool through College age! School group prices: $3.00 per K-12 student $4.00 per College student $5.00 per each adult chaperone From preschool to college level, we have a field trip for everyone. Design your field trip with Museum Educator, Betsy Rutz or choose from those we have ready to go. Such as: Pre-K and Kindergarten: Animal hunt in gallery, puppet fables, train conductor tour through main gallery and special exhibit. (45-60 min) 1st Grade: Communities. Meet historical characters, everyday heroes of our local community who will share their stories in the main gallery. Focus on past, present, future (1.5-2 hr) 2nd Grade: Communities and early Marquette history focus. (1.5-2 hr) 3rd Grade: Fur Trade Unit and quill or bead craft (1.5-2.5 hr depending on number of students) 4th Grade: Lumbering Unit in main gallery and gathering hall activity. (1 hr +) 5th-12th Grades: Early Footprints, Innovations, Early U.P., local geology, weather and climate, primary documents and research. (1-2 hours) We often create a field trip around a class specific focus such as a language class; just let us know what you are studying. Email Betsy Rutz, Museum Educator, for more information on scheduling your tour! [email protected] or call 906.226.3571 Group ToursGroup tours are available for any type of group or club; please call or send us an email if you would like to schedule one!
No group is too small. 906-226-3571 or email 
Visitors from Korea through NMU International Programs Office, Summer 2016
Red Hat Club learning from a first-person narrative in our main exhibit gallery.
Fill out a teacher/group leader evaluation here. Email to [email protected]
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Family ProgrammingThe History Center offers unique and fun family programming all year.
Join us for these 2025 events!
Historic Marquette Bus Tours Our historic summer bus tours hit the road once again this summer! These bus tours are a wonderful way to learn more about the community, whether you live here or are visiting. You will be entertained by historic reenactors along the route while you relax in a comfortable air conditioned Checker bus. Historic interpretation throughout the tour brings to light the stories of buildings, people, and sites as we travel. We will feature the Marquette lakefront, downtown, historic homes, Park Cemetery, and sites north at the university. The 90 minute tour departs from and returns to the History Center. Purchase tickets below, or stop in to the MRHC front desk. Tickets are $25 each. The MRHC would like to thank Checker Bus for their support of these tours. Eight total tours in July and August. July Bus Tours: 1:00 p.m. Tuesdays: July 15, 22, 29 6:00 p.m. Wednesdays: July 16 & 23 August Bus Tours: 1:00 p.m. Tuesday: August 5 6:00 p.m. Wednesdays: August 6 & 13 Purchase your tickets today!: Bus Tour Tickets 
Hands On! Art & History Day Camp
August 18 - 22, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. each day In partnership with the Liberty Children’s Art Project, we will host our summer camp for ages 8-12 for the 12th consecutive year! This camp explores art media and projects in theme with the museum exhibits. Art making and history exploration combine for an enriching week. $55 for week / $50 for museum members. Sibling discount available. Note: Tuesday August 19 camp meet and pick up will be at Park Cemetery on 7th Street for regional history "tombstone detectives" and watercolor painting outdoors. Space is limited for this week long day camp. Please register ahead, in person at the museum or call us. Registration opens June 2nd. 13th Annual Archaeology Fair
Saturday, October 18, 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. This date is International Archaeology Day! Join the celebration of archaeology and the thrill of discovery. Activities and hands-on learning for all ages will be set up throughout the building. Multiple booths feature various displays; there is something new each year. Special guests and presentations announced in September. Fair is included with general admission and membership at the sponsor level on up. Archaeology Bingo Scavenger HuntBingo October 2020 was a great success!
View some archaeology bingo players' answer submissions on this slideshow: To see all of the museum programming and details, and updates on programs check out the Events Page!
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Outreach Programs
Looking for an interesting 20-50 minute program for your community organization or service club, veterans group, senior center, or nursing home? Outreach programs are offered for a suggested donation in Marquette County. Call if you're interested in scheduling a tour! 906-226-3571.
The Dead River Flood of Marquette County On May 14, 2003, the failure of the Silver Lake Dam sent 8-9 billion gallons of water flooding down the Dead River. Hear about the impact on the community at the time and up to today through a PowerPoint presentation that includes photographs, audio clips from oral history interviews with people affected by the disaster and video clips of news coverage from TV6. This is a shortened version of our program on the 20th Anniversary of the flood, held in May 2023. Railroads of Marquette County Railroads were a necessary part of the day to day life and economy of Marquette County. With the beginning of the iron mines in Marquette County in the 1840s, railroads were a necessity for moving the ore. Passenger service, the shipping of forest products, materials, and manufactured items all followed the shipping of ore. People and goods were shipped not only across the Upper Peninsula (UP) but throughout North America. From 1855-1896 seven railroads used Marquette as their headquarters. While much shorter today, the LS&I, Mineral Range, and Canadian National operate in Marquette County. Enjoy photographs presented in a slide show that take you back and explain the influence of railroads in our area. History of Photography in the U.P. Since the 1850s and 1860s, photographers and artists have been documenting the Marquette area’s people and places. This program dives into the many different innovations in early photography as well as discusses the pioneers who built the photography scene in Marquette County. This presentation will include hands-on photographs and 3-D stereograph views. The U.P.’s Most Unusual Loggers! Hear the amazing, little-known story of German POWs who served as loggers in remote forest camps throughout the Upper Peninsula during World War II. Why were they here and what was their experience like? View old photos and learn more about this curious period of U.P. history. Quilt Collection Take a look at a few picks from our wide collection of quilts made in Marquette County. This presentation will dive into how the styles, uses, and meanings changed from quilts made as early as the mid 1800s to those made by people still alive today. Photographer BF Childs Dive into the impressive photography career BF Childs built in the 1800s. This program offers hands on opportunities with lots of pictures taken by Childs as well as photos of his studio and partners to look at! Through the Curator’s Eyes Join the curator to explore highlights from the History Center’s diverse collection. All artifacts have stories and mysteries, whether they are a beautiful gown, unique sculpture, ordinary household tools, business signs or a hockey uniform. Each program will feature different artifacts. Health, Medicine, and the Community circa 1910 Historical character Dr. Charles Tomlinson presents an array of artifacts depicting the medical field in 1910. This presentation will tell about the evolution of the hospitals in Ishpeming and Marquette and gives an understanding of the medical community at that time. This is an engaging, hands on program for any age with artifacts such as medicine bottles and surgical instruments being passed around and does not include a slideshow. Limited on docent availability. Leaves on My Family Tree What do a voyageur, blacksmith and train conductor have in common? Find out as Robert Mercure’s family history comes to life. Mercure’s ability to portray the lives of three men is entertaining and engaging. Learn how he uncovered his family tree and created this fascinating story. Archival Treasures from the J.M. Longyear Research Library View actual historical documents such as: the first post office record book, early weather observation books, railroad accident logs, Lincoln inauguration invitation, photo scrapbooks, Peter White correspondence, Martin Luther King signed program. Back to top |